Mental Health Support for Veterans: A Caring Place to Start This National Veterans and Military Families Month

November is a time to honor and thank the people who have served our country. It can also be a time to make space for an important conversation: military service can affect mental health, sometimes long after a person returns home.

Every Veteran’s experience is different. Some adjust to civilian life with few lasting difficulties, while others continue to carry the effects of what they experienced. Those effects may be hard to see: trouble sleeping, feeling constantly on alert, feeling disconnected from others, or relying more on alcohol or other substances. If any of this feels familiar to you or someone you love, you deserve support. Please know that help is available.

Struggling After Service Does Not Mean You Are Weak

Mental health symptoms are not a character flaw or a sign that you should have been tougher. They can be understandable responses to difficult experiences, and they affect people in different ways: post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, irritability, isolation, or using alcohol or other substances to cope.

These feelings and symptoms can emerge years after service, and support is available whether or not someone experienced combat. There are many reasons a Veteran may wait to reach out. You may recognize some of these thoughts:

• “I can handle it.” Being self-reliant may have helped you through a lot. Reaching out when things feel harder is another way of taking care of yourself.
• “Others had it worse.” Everyone’s experience is different. You do not have to compare your pain or prove that it is serious enough to deserve help.
• “What will this mean for my job or benefits?” It is understandable to have questions. Our team can talk with you about care options and help you consider next steps.
• “I don’t want to worry my family.” It can be difficult to share what you are going through. A trusted person may want the chance to listen and support you.

What Treatment Can Look Like

At Pembroke Hospital’s Branches South Shore, our Adult Trauma-Focused Partial Hospitalization Program offers structured, full-day outpatient support for adults 18 and older. The program typically runs for three weeks, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can attend in person in Pembroke, where lunch is provided, or virtually. This is outpatient care, so you return home each day.

The program includes group therapy, evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mental health evaluations, and medication management. Together, these supports can help you understand your responses to trauma, build a greater sense of stability, and find ways to communicate your needs to the people close to you.

The program is open to adults with trauma-related needs; it is not limited to Veterans. Adult PHP also supports people experiencing depression, anxiety and mood symptoms. If you need 24-hour support, adult inpatient care is available.

If Someone You Love Is A Veteran

You may notice changes such as increased withdrawal, irritability, trouble sleeping, more frequent drinking, or avoiding crowds or meaningful dates. A gentle, direct check-in can help: “You haven’t seemed like yourself lately, and I care about you. Would you like to tell me how things have been?” Give them time to respond and listen without judgment. If they are not ready to talk, let them know you are there and check in again later.

If You Need Help Right Now

If you or someone you love needs immediate support, the Veterans Crisis Line is free and confidential: call 988 and press 1, or text 838255. If there is an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Taking the First Step

You do not have to figure everything out before reaching out. Our clinical team can listen, complete an assessment, and help you understand what support may fit your needs.

To schedule an assessment, call 781-924-8203. For general questions, call 781-829-7000, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Online scheduling is also available. We accept VA, TRICARE, Medicare, MassHealth, and most commercial insurance plans. Our team can help answer questions about coverage.

Referral sources: PHP referrals 781-924-8203 | Inpatient referrals 781-829-7121

In a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.