Veteran Counselors: Va Hospital's Priority Hiring

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits for US veterans, including mental health care. The VA employs licensed professional mental health counsellors (LPMHCs) to provide care to veterans. However, the VA has been criticized for hiring counsellors in much lower numbers compared to other mental health professions. To address this issue, the VA introduced initiatives to increase the number of mental health professionals, including counsellors, in its workforce. Despite these efforts, the VA continues to face challenges in hiring counsellors, and congressional involvement is being sought to resolve this issue. The VA offers a range of health care services to veterans, including emergency mental health care, community care, and support for specific issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and readjustment to civilian life.

The VA provides mental health services to veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the federal department that provides benefits for US veterans, including mental health care. The VA provides mental health services to veterans, including emergency mental health care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through VA medical centers and some local, non-VA hospitals. The Veterans Crisis Line also offers confidential support around the clock for veterans in crisis and their families and friends. This service is free and can be accessed by calling, texting, or chatting online.

VA medical centers offer same-day care and free mental health services for issues like PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, and more. Additionally, veterans and their families can receive free private counseling, alcohol and drug assessments, and other support at one of the 300 community Vet Centers. These centers are authorized by the VA and provide care on its behalf. Community care is available to veterans based on certain conditions, eligibility requirements, and individual needs and circumstances.

The VA also provides support for veterans who are homeless or having trouble readjusting to civilian life. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans offers assistance 24/7, and the Coaching into Care program allows veterans to speak directly with a licensed psychologist or social worker at no charge. Furthermore, the VA offers caregiver support through its caregiver peer support mentoring program and the Caregiver Support Line, which operates six days a week.

While the VA does employ mental health professionals, including therapists, there have been efforts to increase the hiring of counselors. The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) has advocated for greater recognition and employment of counselors within the VA. In 2006, a law was passed that added licensed professional mental health counselors (LPMHCs) to the list of professions eligible for VA employment. However, the hiring of counselors by the VA remains relatively low compared to other mental health professions, and the NBCC continues to work towards addressing this issue.

VA hospitals employ veteran responders for their crisis line

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the federal department that provides benefits for US veterans, including mental healthcare. The VA has historically faced criticism for its failure to recognize or employ professional counselors to provide care to veterans. However, in recent years, there has been a push for the VA to hire more counselors, with organizations like the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) advocating for increased recognition and hiring of professional counselors. This resulted in the passage of legislation adding licensed professional mental health counselors (LPMHCs) to the list of professions eligible for VA employment. Despite these efforts, the VA continues to hire counselors in much lower numbers than other mental health professions due to various barriers, including the exclusion of counselors from the Health Professionals Trainee Program.

In response to this, the VA has taken steps to address the issue by lifting hiring freezes and creating additional positions. For instance, the VA lifted a hiring freeze on more than 100 positions across the Veteran Health Administration, including nine support positions at the Veterans Crisis Line. While employees in these roles don't directly respond to calls from veterans, they provide critical support to the hotline responders. The VA has also established a Readjustment Counseling Service Scholarship Program, which counselors are eligible for, as part of a broader effort to improve mental health services for veterans.

The Veterans Crisis Line is a 24/7 confidential support line for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their supporters. Callers can connect with qualified responders, many of whom are veterans themselves, who provide a listening ear and help connect them with additional resources. The VA's crisis line responders play a crucial role in supporting veterans in distress and ensuring they receive the help they need.

While the VA has made strides in improving its mental health services, there is still room for growth in employing veteran counselors and ensuring adequate staffing levels. The VA's efforts to lift hiring freezes and create additional positions are steps in the right direction, and ongoing collaboration with organizations like the NBCC will help address the challenges in hiring counselors. By prioritizing mental health services and support for veterans, the VA can better serve those who have served our nation.

The VA has a Health Professionals Trainee Program

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the federal department that provides benefits for US veterans, including mental health care. The VA runs one of the largest medical education programs in the US, partnering with colleges and universities across the country to train new health care professionals.

The VA provides guidance and training from an experienced VA professional, as well as a salary, employment benefits, and travel opportunities. Upon completion of the program, participants are eligible for non-competitive placement at GS-11 into a position within the VA healthcare system.

The VA also has a Technical Career Field (TCF) program, which allows participants to ease into federal government structures and, ultimately, help patients.

VA hospitals provide emergency mental health care

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the federal department that provides benefits for US veterans, including mental health care. VA hospitals provide emergency mental health care in a variety of ways. The VA telemental health program allows veterans to connect with a mental health provider through a computer or mobile device in their home or at their nearest VA health facility. The BeThere peer assistance program, in partnership with Military OneSource, offers support to service members, their families, and transitioning veterans up to 365 days after retirement or separation. This program allows veterans to talk privately with peer coaches who are also veterans, service members, or military spouses.

VA hospitals also provide same-day mental health care, and some services are available even if the veteran is not enrolled in VA health care. Veterans can receive treatment for mental health issues like PTSD, depression, anxiety, and grief. VA mental health services include peer support with other veterans, counseling, therapy, medication, or a combination of these options. Evidence-based treatments are tailored to each veteran's needs, priorities, values, preferences, and goals. Measurement-based care (MBC) allows veterans to take an active role in their mental health care by working with providers to set recovery goals, develop treatment plans, and establish benchmarks.

VA hospitals are adding more rural and mobile clinics and working with health care providers in smaller communities to improve veterans' access to care. They also use cutting-edge technologies, including mental health care by phone or secure video, self-directed apps for smartphones, and text-based support, to deliver care to veterans in the comfort of their own homes. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year emergency mental health hotline that offers support for people experiencing a mental health crisis.

While the VA does employ some veteran counselors, there are still barriers to counselor employment within the VA. The VA has been criticized for hiring counselors in much lower numbers than other mental health professions and excluding counselors from the Health Professionals Trainee Program. However, the VA has taken steps to address this issue, such as passing a law in 2006 that added licensed professional mental health counselors (LPMHCs) to the list of professions eligible for VA employment and releasing qualification standards in 2010 to allow for the hiring of LPMHCs.

VA hospitals offer free bereavement counselling

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides bereavement counselling, also known as grief counselling, to the family members of veterans. This service is offered to the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member or veteran who died while serving their country, or a reservist or National Guard member who died while on active duty. Additionally, bereavement counselling is offered to the families of veterans who were receiving Vet Center services at the time of their death, especially if the death was unexpected or occurred while receiving hospice or similar care. Bereavement counselling is also provided to the families of service members or veterans who died by suicide. This form of counselling helps individuals cope with the emotional and psychological stress that follows the loss of a loved one.

While the VA does employ therapists and other mental health professionals, there has been a noted disparity in the number of counsellors hired compared to other mental health professions. The National Board for Certified Counsellors & Affiliates (NBCC) has advocated for increased recognition and hiring of professional counsellors by the VA. In 2006, a law was passed adding licensed professional mental health counsellors (LPMHCs) to the list of professions eligible for VA employment. However, barriers remain, such as the exclusion of counsellors from the Health Professionals Trainee Program. Despite initiatives to add more mental health professionals, including counsellors, to the VA workforce, only a handful of counsellors were employed. The NBCC continues to work with the VA and Congress to address these issues and improve access to counselling services for veterans.

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