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While military service often fosters resilience in individuals and families, some service members may experience mental health or substance use challenges. Thirty percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health condition requiring treatment – about 730,000 men and women – with many experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression. Sadly, less than 50 percent of returning veterans in need receive any mental health treatment. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately 22 veterans die by suicide every day. Mental Health First Aid is a valuable resource that can make a difference in the lives of the more than 22 million veterans, their families, and the communities they live in.

Mental Health First Aid USA is a live training program  - like regular First Aid or CPR - designed to give people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of specific illnesses.

Individuals trained in Mental Health First Aid for Veterans can help to:

• Break down the stigma associated with mental illness like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders
  
• Reach out to those who suffer in silence, reluctant to seek help
  
• Let veterans know that support is available in their community
  
• Provide community resource information
  
• Make mental healthcare and treatment accessible to thousands in need

Key components of Mental Health First Aid for Veterans include:

• A discussion of military culture and its relevance to the topic of mental health
  
• A discussion of the specific risk factors faced by many service members and their families, such as trauma (both mental and physical), stress, and separation
  
• Applying the ALGEE action plan in a number of scenarios designed specifically for service members, their families and those that support them
  
• A review of common mental health resources for service members, their families and those who support them