Veteran Assistance

Veterans and active duty service members sacrifice much for our nation. Many of them have special needs due to the stresses of their service experience, which may include combat, injury, trauma, and isolation from traditional support structures. The Louisiana Department of Health recognizes these needs and hopes to assist those who have given of themselves for our country. Service members, veterans, and their families looking for information about the health needs they experience as a result of their or their family member's service should review the information below. Additionally, we hope that healthcare providers across the state will join us in assisting this community of patriots and their families by using the information presented below in their practice.

Resources for Veterans, Service Members. and Their Families

• Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LVDA)
  The LDVA provides Louisiana-based resources and services for veterans and their families. 
• Military OneSource
  Military OneSource provides confidential nonmedical counseling to service members and their families, as well as comprehensive information about all aspects of military life. 
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  SAMHSA administers the Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center, which assists in finding behavioral health resources and service. 
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  The VA provides nationwide services and resources for veterans and their families.
  • Specific services offered by the VA include:
    • Women veterans healthcare
    • Services for homeless veterans
• VA Mental Health Services
  • Phone: 988, press 1
  • Text: 838255
  • Chat: veteranscrisisline.net

Resources for Service Providers Giving Care to Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families

• Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP)
  The CDP provides training on military culture and offers continuing education units to participants. It offers more than 250 free courses, and through the Governor’s Challenge Portal Louisiana is allotted 15,000 seats for the state. With access to the GC training portal, state teams will have the ability to promote online trainings to community partners, providers, and others to support strategies related to their suicide prevention strategic action plans. In addition, individualized state team dashboards will provide custom metrics and learner evaluation data. 
• Support for Healthcare Providers
  The Department of Veterans Affairs offers information on a variety of topics to providers, including screening, assessment, and treatment tools, and continuing education credits are offered through the program.
• Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs
  The LDVA provides Louisiana-based resources and services for veterans and their families.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  SAMHSA administers the Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center, which assists in finding behavioral health resources and service. It also provides webinars and trainings to providers. By becoming a partner with the program, you can be identified as a provider of behavioral health to this community. 
• The Suicide Prevention Resource Center
  Suicide is a disproportionate danger to service members and veterans. The SPRC provides training to providers who wish to help combat this trend.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. https://988lifeline.org/