Crisis Resources

Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. You do not need to handle this alone.

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  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (for anyone, not just veterans)
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  Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
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  SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-4357 (free referrals and information 24/7)
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  Vet Center (Readjustment Counseling) — 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387) for combat veterans and their families

  Read our full Vet Centers guide →
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  Military OneSource — 1-800-342-9647 (for active duty, Guard, and Reserve members and families)

• VA Mental Health Services — Available to all enrolled veterans
• PTSD Treatment Programs — Specialized VA programs for trauma
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST) — Free treatment regardless of discharge status or whether incident was reported
  Read our full MST resources guide →
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment — VA programs for addiction recovery
• Peer Support Programs — Connect with other veterans who understand

Whole Health is VA's approach to care that focuses on "what matters to you, not what is the matter with you." Instead of only treating diseases and symptoms, Whole Health builds a personalized health plan based on your values, needs, and goals — integrating complementary therapies with conventional medical care.

Complementary therapies available through VA:

• Acupuncture — thin needles placed at specific body points to relieve pain and other symptoms
• Chiropractic care — spinal manipulation, manual therapies, active rehabilitation
• Medical massage therapy — therapeutic massage for pain, stress, and muscle tension
• Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong — movement, breathing, and mindfulness practices
• Meditation — mindfulness, guided imagery, sound meditation, yoga nidra
• Biofeedback — using sensors to learn to control body processes like heart rate
• Clinical hypnosis — guided relaxation and focused attention for pain and behavioral change

Research shows Whole Health helps veterans manage chronic conditions more effectively, reduce pain (especially as an alternative to opioids), and improve overall well-being. VA also offers free courses: "Introduction to Whole Health" and "Taking Charge of My Life and Health."

Cost: Free for veterans in Priority Groups 1–6. Veterans in Priority Groups 7–8 may have a $15 copayment for some services (effective October 1, 2025).

How to access: Contact your local VA facility and ask about Whole Health, ask your VA primary care provider for a referral, or visit va.gov/wholehealth.

If you are a family member or caregiver of a veteran and need support, VA offers the Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. ET; Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET). This line provides telephone support, peer mentoring connections, skills training and education, referrals to community resources, and access to online caregiver training programs.

Learn more at caregiver.va.gov.

Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness — it is one of the strongest things you can do. These services exist because people care about veterans and want to help. Every one of these resources is confidential and staffed by people trained to support you.