Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Organizations Working with Military Personnel and Their Families | Mental Health, Traumatic Stress, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Brain Injury | Children with Parents in the Military | Grief | Suicide Prevention | Websites for Service Providers that are working with Military Personnel and Their Families

Organizations Working with Military Personnel and Their Families

Armed Forces Crossroads
This website provides information for armed forces personnel and their families. Topics include deployment, casualty and loss, parenting, health and wellness, and news.
https://www.afcrossroads.com

Army OneSource
The Army OneSource website provides articles and information for Army families on various topics including Army customs, home and personal safety, managing deployment, and understanding military pay.
http://www.myarmyonesource.com/default.aspx

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress is dedicated to advancing trauma-informed knowledge, leadership, and methodologies. The Center's work addresses a wide scope of trauma exposure from the consequences of combat, operations other than war, terrorism, natural and human-caused disasters, and public health threats.
http://www.centerforthestudyoftraumaticstress.org

Citizen Soldier Support Program
The Citizen Soldier Support Program was designed to strengthen support for National Guard and reserve members and their families by increasing deployment and post-deployment access to behavioral health services.
http://www.citizensoldiersupport.org

Home Base Program
According to its website, “the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program provides clinical care and support services to New England-area service members, veterans, and families affected by combat- or deployment-related stress or traumatic brain injury. We offer clinical and community education on these ‘invisible wounds of war’ and conduct research in the understanding and treatment of posttraumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.”
http://www.homebaseprogram.org/

Hooah 4 Health
This website is sponsored by the Army National Guard and offers health and wellness information for service members.
http://www.hooah4usa.com/ 

Leaders Guide for Managing Marines in Distress
Hosted by Marine Corps Community Services, this website features guidance and tools to help U.S. Marine Corps leaders at all levels support marines within their units who are in distress. Information is provided regarding deployment, personal issues, family issues, harassment, substance use, and emotional issues.
http://www.usmc-mccs.org/leadersguide 

Mental Health America: Operation Healthy Reunions
Mental Health America has created Operation Healthy Reunions, a “program that provides education and helps to bust the stigma of mental health issues among soldiers, their families, and medical staff to ensure that a greater number of military families receive the prompt and high-quality care they deserve.” This website offers educational materials on topics including reuniting with your spouse and children, adjusting after war, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
http://www.nmha.org/reunions/index.cfm 

Military HOMEFRONT
This official U.S. Department of Defense website provides quality-of-life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders, and service providers.
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

inTransition
inTransition is a voluntary coaching and support program designed to support military service members as they move between health-care systems or providers. The website is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense.
http://www.health.mil/intransition/

Military OneSource
This website, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and USA.gov,  offers articles, worksheets, educational materials, interactive tools, and other information on all aspects of military life, including parenting, deployment, substance abuse, spouse training, and more.
http://www.militaryonesource.com 

National Guard Family Program
This online community is a place to find contacts and information on National Guard programs, benefits, family readiness, and more.
http://www.guardfamily.org 

National Military Family Association
This website aims to educate military families concerning the rights, benefits, and services available to them, and to inform them about issues that affect their lives. Information is provided on topics including deployment, health care, family life, education, and money.
http://www.nmfa.org 

Real Warriors
The Real Warriors Campaign is an initiative to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery, and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans, and their families. This website is sponsored by the U.S.  Department of Defense and the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
http://www.realwarriors.net/ 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Publications Ordering
This site offers free publications and tip sheets on a wide range of behavioral health issues, such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use, anger management, and trauma-informed care.
http://store.samhsa.gov

TRICARE
TRICARE is the U.S. Department of Defense healthcare program for members of the uniformed services and their families. This website provides information about general health, services, and benefits.
http://www.tricare.mil

U.S. Army Public Health Command
This U.S. Army website offers articles, guides, and other information regarding staying healthy, both physically and mentally.
http://phc.amedd.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
This website provides helpful information regarding veteran benefits and treatment facilities.
http://www.va.gov

Veterans Crisis Line
Veterans and their loved ones can reach the VA crisis line for free, confidential support even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. It is staffed by mental health professionals in Canandaigua, NY, who take toll-free calls from across the country and work closely with local VA mental health providers to help callers. The VA is partnering with the SAMHSA to operate the national hotline. The toll-free hotline number is reached by dialing 800-273-TALK (8255), and selecting option 1. Veterans can also chat online through the website or send a text message to 838255.
http://veteranscrisisline.net 

Vet Center
This website allows military personnel and their families to find a community-based Vet Center near them (there are 207 nationwide). Vet Centers provide free readjustment counseling and outreach services to veterans who served in a combat zone and to military family members dealing with military-related issues.
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov

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Mental Health, Traumatic Stress, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

American Psychiatric Association's HealthyMinds.org: Military Section
This part of the Healthy Minds website provides fact sheets and other information regarding mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression that may affect service members and their families.
http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health/people/military 

American Psychological Association—Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
This website contains a wide range of information, publications, and resources on the topic of PTSD.
http://www.apa.org/topics/ptsd/ 

Family Caregiver Alliance—Caregiving and Veterans
Family Caregiver Alliance is a community-based nonprofit organization that addresses the needs of those caring for veterans who suffer from PTSD or who have come home from a deployment with physical injuries. The website provides research, fact sheets, advice, newsletters, and other information of interest.
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2500 

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies promotes the advancement and exchange of knowledge about severe stress and trauma. This knowledge includes understanding the scope and consequences of traumatic exposure, preventing traumatic events and ameliorating their consequences, and advocating for the field of traumatic stress. Its website provides a membership directory of clinicians listed by State who are interested or specialize in trauma and traumatic stress studies.
http://www.istss.org 

Military Pathways: Mental Health Screening Program
Military Pathways is a mental health and alcohol screening and referral program provided for military families and service members affected by deployment and mobilization. It was created through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense and a nonprofit organization, Screening for Mental Health. The anonymous survey includes questions designed so one can review his or her situation with regard to some of the more common mental health issues including PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol problems and more.
http://www.militarymentalhealth.org 

National Alliance on Mental Illness Veterans Resource Center
This website helps support active duty military personnel and veterans and their families facing mental illnesses such as depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia. The center's resources include fact sheets, self-help information, online discussion groups, research and policy updates, and links to government agencies and other private organizations in areas such as traumatic brain injury, suicide prevention, veterans’ affairs, multicultural needs, women veterans, and homelessness.
http://www.nami.org/veterans 

National Center for PTSD
This website is an educational resource developed by the VA. It contains research and information for all audiences to help increase the understanding of trauma and PTSD and their effects.
http://www.ptsd.va.gov

National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health website has overviews of a number of disorders related to trauma exposure, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and substance use disorders.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov

Naval Center Combat and Operation Stress Control
This U.S. Navy website provides combat stress resources for Navy and Marine Corps service members, leaders, health professionals, and families. The mission of the Naval Center is to promote resilience, reduce stigma in seeking mental health treatments, and identify and facilitate evidence-based best practices in diagnosing and treating PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcsd/nccosc/Pages/welcome.aspx

RAND: Invisible Wounds of War Project
This website provides a listing of publications and testimonies related to various behavioral health issues among military personnel.
http://www.rand.org/multi/military/veterans.html 

Screening for Mental Health
According to this website, it “offers service personnel and their families the opportunity to take anonymous, mental health and alcohol use self-assessments online, via the phone, and through special events held at installations. . . . The program is designed to help individuals identify their own symptoms and access assistance before a problem becomes serious. The self-assessments address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use, and bipolar disorder. After completing a self-assessment, individuals receive referral information including services provided by TRICARE, Military OneSource and Vet Centers. The program, part of the Department of Defense continuum of care, is fully funded by Force Health Protection and Readiness, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs.”
http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/military/index.aspx 

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Brain Injury

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress: Resources within “Traumatic Brain Injury”
The website provides various resources created by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress that focus on the topic of traumatic brain injury.
http://www.cstsonline.org/tag/traumatic-brain-injury/ 

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
The mission of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center is to serve active-duty military, their dependents, and veterans with traumatic brain injury through state-of-the-art medical care, innovative clinical research initiatives, and educational programs.
http://www.dvbic.org 

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Children with Parents in the Military

Military Kids Connect
MilitaryKidsConnect.org is an initiative of the National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2), a U.S. Department of Defense agency. It is an online community of military children (ages 6–17 years old) that provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children from when their parents or caregivers are deployed to when they return. Military Kids Connect offers informative activities, fun games, helpful videos, and interesting user surveys that can guide and reinforce understanding, resilience, and coping skills in military children and their peers.
https://www.militarykidsconnect.org/ 

Military K-12 Partners
The U.S. Department of Defense has developed a comprehensive plan that provides military families with the tools and information needed to make informed choices regarding the appropriate educational setting for each child. The website includes transition toolkits and information regarding how to prepare your child for a move or deployment of a parent.
http://militaryk12partners.dodea.edu/index.html 

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is a collaboration of academic and community-based service centers whose mission is to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for traumatized children and their families across the United States. The NCTSN website provides information regarding evidence-based interventions, trauma-informed services, and public and professional education on child trauma-related topics.
http://www.nctsnet.org 

United States Department of Education—Military Families and Veterans
The U.S. Department of Education provides information and resources for children of military families. Information regarding the commitment of the U.S. Department of Education to the education of military children; financial aid options, including student loans and grants; and general support for military families can be found on this website.
http://www.ed.gov/veterans-and-military-families

Zero to Three: Coming Together Around Military Families
Zero to Three is an organization that supports the healthy development and wellbeing of infants and toddlers and their families. Their military-specific website includes flyers, articles, activity books, and other helpful materials geared specifically toward helping military parents to support their young children.
http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/funded-projects/military-families/ 

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Grief

Grief, Loss, and Healing
This website provides listings for grief-related resources and information for online support groups.
http://www.usmemorialday.org/healing.html 

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
This site provides a support network, resources, information, a 24-hour hotline, and more for the surviving families of those who have died in service to America.
http://www.taps.org 

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Suicide Prevention

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention—Suicide Bereavement Support Group Directory
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has compiled a national directory of survivor support groups for families and friends of a person who has committed suicide. The directory is listed by State. Visit this web page to find the support group nearest you.
https://www.afsp.org/coping-with-suicide/find-support/find-a-support-group

Army Suicide Prevention Program
This webpage provides resources and information for members of the United States Army on the topic of suicide and suicide prevention.
http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/

Marine Corps Community Services—Suicide Prevention
This website provides information and resources for marines, their families, command and leaders, and health professionals on the topics of suicide and suicide prevention. It also includes Never Leave a Marine Behind Training.
http://www.usmc-mccs.org/healthpromotions/suicide_prev.cfm

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The hotline can be reached by dialing 800-273-TALK (8255) or by chatting online with crisis counselors through the Lifeline website.
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 

Navy Personnel Command—Suicide Prevention
This U.S. Navy website provides resources, event information, trainings, and facts on suicide and suicide prevention for members of the United States Navy.
http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/suicide_prevention/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Air Force Suicide Prevention Program
According to the U.S. Air Force Reserve's website, this program "is designed to provide information and tools to members of the Air Force community (Suicide Prevention Program Managers, commanders, gatekeepers, IDS members, etc.) in their efforts to help reduce Air Force suicides."
http://www.af.mil/suicideprevention.asp

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Websites for Providers Working with Military Personnel and Their Families

Post-Deployment Health
This website, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, is designed to assist clinicians in the delivery of post-deployment health care. Information and guidance for both healthcare providers and service members is provided regarding health-related aspects of the deployment process.
http://www.pdhealth.mil

PTSD 101
PTSD 101 is a web-based educational resource on the National Center for PTSD website that is designed for practitioners who provide services to military men and women and their families as they recover from combat stress or other traumatic events.
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/ptsd101/ptsd-101.asp

Veterans Health Initiative
This U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website offers independent study courses to help health providers better serve their veteran patients. Course topics include PTSD, military sexual trauma, and traumatic brain injury.
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/vethealthinitiative/index.asp

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Last updated 04/30/2013