Veteran and Military Behavioral Health

Overview

One in four Oregon veterans experience frustration in seeking care for mental health or substance use issues, according to a survey completed by more than 4,000 veterans.

Oregon is committed to helping veterans access the tools and supports they need to thrive.

Addressing the Needs of Oregon Veterans

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) commissioned a needs assessment study to identify challenges and opportunities for reforms. Produced by the Rede Group, the 2019 Oregon Veterans Behavioral Health Services Improvement Study:

Describes the availability of behavioral health services for Oregon veterans;
Provides findings regarding barriers veterans face in accessing behavioral health services; and
Recommends policy and other changes that may improve the accessibility and quality of behavioral health services for Oregon veterans.

The recommendations include proposed steps to strengthen services and outreach for veterans, including:

Reduce stigma about behavioral health issues to help more veterans feel comfortable seeking care.
Strengthen suicide prevention programs.
Improve care coordination for veterans and tailor services to better address the experiences those who have served in the military have faced.
Expand the number of peer specialists who have their own first-hand knowledge of veterans issues and can provide effective support.
Recruit more treatment providers to serve veterans.

Following these recommendations, OHA and ODVA held 17 community forums between August and October 2019 in fifteen different locations throughout the state. The forums gathered input from Oregon communities about veterans behavioral health needs and services.

View the study report (193 pages, PDF) View the report highlights (PDF) View the study findings (PDF)

Links and Resources

Oregon Health Plan – Apply online, access paper application materials, or review FAQs
Oregon Health Plan, Dental Only Programs – Learn more about eligibility and enrollment for the Veteran Dental Program and Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizens dental program
Peer Delivered Services (PDS) – Access news, training, and resource information about Peer Delivered Services in Oregon
Traditional Health Workers (THW) – Who is a Traditional Health Worker?
Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) website – Find your veteran benefits, access publications, apply for emergency assistance
ODVA County Services Directory – Find your county's Veteran Service Office
Make the Connection - MakeTheConnection.net is an online resource designed to connect Veterans, their family members and friends, and other supporters with information, resources, and solutions to issues affecting their lives.

Program Contact

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Need Help?

Military Helpline

Staffed by veterans and others trained in military culture, the Military Helpline offers free and confidential crisis intervention with sensitivity to military-specific issues.

1-888-457-4838. There is hope. Call now, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The Helpline understands what you’re going through and can help you sort things out privately. Whether it’s family issues, anger, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress or thoughts of suicide, call us. We won’t judge you and we’ll keep it to ourselves.

Veterans Crisis Line

Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are veterans themselves.

Call 988, then press 1.
Text 838255, or connect online to chat.
Call 1-800-799-4889 to access crisis line deaf and hard of hearing support.