Virtual care helping Veterans face PTSD
Virtual mental health care through VA's Telemental Health services is helping veterans overcome longstanding barriers to treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. Army Veteran Darrell Fullmer's experience illustrates how videoconferencing technology is reaching veterans who previously avoided care due to stigma, difficulty traveling to clinics, or challenges being in crowded or unfamiliar places. After nearly three decades of avoiding mental health treatment, the 56-year-old veteran found that receiving therapy from home through VA Video Connect, the department's secure videoconferencing app, made it possible for him to finally address his PTSD.
VA's Telemental Health program provides mental health services remotely through secure video technology, allowing veterans to meet with therapists and psychologists from their own homes rather than traveling to VA facilities. This approach addresses two significant obstacles many veterans face: the persistent stigma around seeking mental health care and the practical difficulties of attending in-person appointments. For veterans with PTSD, the requirement to navigate crowds and unfamiliar environments to reach a clinic can itself trigger symptoms, creating a catch-22 that prevents them from accessing the very care they need.
The program serves veterans across the country who are enrolled in VA health care and have access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet connectivity. Veterans dealing with PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other mental health conditions can receive individual therapy, group sessions, and psychiatric care through virtual appointments. The service is particularly valuable for disabled veterans whose service-connected conditions make travel difficult or who live in rural areas far from VA medical centers.
Fullmer's treatment journey began when his daughter's pregnancy motivated him to change patterns that had left him angry and isolated for decades. Through regular virtual sessions with a therapist every few weeks and a psychologist monthly, he learned to recognize early warning signs of anxiety and developed practical coping strategies including breathing techniques. "It's a lot easier to talk when you're in an environment you're comfortable in," Fullmer explained, noting that his first session helped him realize he had been masking problems rather than addressing them. Over three years of consistent virtual care, he has seen significant improvements in his relationships and thinking patterns, though he acknowledges his recovery remains ongoing.
For disabled veterans, mental health conditions often compound the challenges of physical service-connected disabilities, affecting overall quality of life, relationships, and the ability to manage other health conditions. PTSD and related mental health issues are themselves compensable service-connected disabilities, and receiving treatment creates documentation that can support disability claims and increases. Virtual care removes obstacles that might otherwise prevent veterans from establishing the treatment history needed for benefits decisions while simultaneously providing therapeutic benefit.
Veterans interested in Telemental Health services should discuss options with their VA care team during their next appointment or contact their local VA medical center to request a referral. Those not currently enrolled in VA health care can check eligibility and apply through their nearest VA facility. Veterans in crisis can access immediate support through the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1, regardless of enrollment status. The VA Telehealth Services website provides comprehensive information about all virtual care options available, though veterans should work directly with their care teams to determine which services best match their individual needs and circumstances.