More than PTSD
Conversations about Veterans' mental health often begin and end with PTSD. PTSD matters, but many Veterans struggle instead, or as well, with depression, anxiety, grief, anger or trouble sleeping. These can follow deployments, but they can also come from the transition itself: losing a unit and a mission, starting a civilian job where nobody understands your experience, injuries and pain, or strain at home. VA's mental health pages for Southeast Michigan list care for depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD side by side.
Families feel it too. Partners and children of service members carry their own stress before, during and after deployments, and they are eligible for some services described below.
Signs worth paying attention to
- Feeling numb, flat or cut off from people you care about
- Irritability or anger that seems out of proportion, or that is hurting relationships
- Being constantly on guard, startling easily, or having trouble sleeping
- Drinking more, or using other substances to slow down or sleep
- Losing interest in work, hobbies or family time
- Feeling like a burden, or that the people you served with deserved better than you
None of these mean something is wrong with you as a person. They are reasons to talk with someone. If anger is a big part of the picture, Irritability and Anger as Signs of Depression or Anxiety explains the link.
VA medical centers in Southeast Michigan
Two large VA medical centers serve the region. The John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor both list confidential outpatient mental health care, including individual and group therapy, along with psychiatry for consultation, evaluation and treatment. VA describes offering therapy, alternative treatments and medication when needed.
Two points from VA's own pages are worth knowing. First, VA says all of its health care facilities offer same-day help for mental health concerns, and that you may qualify even without being enrolled in VA health care. Second, for ongoing VA health care, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) notes that Veterans must apply and be accepted for coverage, so it is worth starting that process even if you are not sure you need it yet.
Vet Centers: counseling outside a hospital
Vet Centers are a separate VA program and many Veterans have never heard of them. They are community-based counseling centers that offer confidential help at no cost in a non-medical setting, for eligible Veterans, service members including National Guard and Reserve members, and their families. In Oakland County, the Pontiac Vet Center is at 44200 Woodward Avenue, Suite 108.
According to the Pontiac Vet Center page, you do not need to be registered for VA care, have a service-connected disability rating or receive other VA benefits to use a Vet Center. Services include counseling for depression, PTSD and the effects of military sexual trauma, couples and family counseling, and bereavement support. Many services are available on a walk-in basis, and appointments can be made at 248-874-1015. VA also runs a 24/7 Vet Center call center at 877-927-8387 where Veterans and families can talk about their experience and be connected to the nearest Vet Center.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency
The MVAA is the state agency that coordinates support and advocacy for Michigan Veterans and their families. Its Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center can be reached at 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838). On its mental health resources page, MVAA describes staff who can help Veterans address risk factors with individualized plans, peer support and help with VA benefits, while making clear this is not a substitute for the Veterans Crisis Line.
Seeing a private therapist
Some Veterans and family members prefer a civilian therapist, or use one alongside VA care. Reasons vary: closer to home, more flexible scheduling, wanting a provider outside the military system, or a spouse who wants their own support. Dr. Lehmann sees adults individually and couples, in Franklin or by telehealth for clients physically in Michigan. Her anxiety therapy and trauma therapy pages describe how she works. Ask any private therapist about their experience with military and Veteran clients. For payment questions, the cost and insurance articles in this guide cover the basics; ask VA directly whether any of your care can be covered through VA.
Getting ready for a first appointment
Whether you go to VA, a Vet Center or a private therapist, a little preparation makes the first visit easier:
- Bring your DD214 or other proof of service if you have it. The Pontiac Vet Center lists documents that show qualifying service, and says staff can help if you do not have them.
- Write down what has changed and when: sleep, mood, temper, drinking, relationships, work.
- List current medications and who prescribes them.
- Decide what you are willing to talk about at first. You do not have to tell your whole story in one session.
- If it helps, ask whether a partner can join part of a session. The Pontiac Vet Center notes that counselors may invite a partner or family member in once or twice.
For family members
If you are worried about a Veteran in your life, you can call the Vet Center call center or the Veterans Crisis Line yourself for guidance. Encouraging rather than pushing, offering to go along to a first appointment, and taking care of your own stress all help. When Someone You Love Won't Get Help has more on that.