Mental health remains a critical priority for Veteran care: In FY 2024, more than 1.1 million Veterans received 6.5 million video TeleMental Health care episodes through the VA, reflecting continued growth in demand for accessible mental health services.
Awareness must lead to action: Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder that reducing stigma and expanding access to support are essential year-round priorities.
VA offers trusted mental health resources for Veterans: Programs like Make the Connection, Spread the Word, and the Veterans Crisis Line help Veterans access support and hear from others with shared experiences.
Whole-person care depends on integrated support: Coordinated mental health services across primary care, specialty care, and emergency settings are essential to improving outcomes.
Technology can strengthen behavioral health delivery: Better coordination, streamlined workflows, and reduced documentation burden help care teams focus more time on Veterans.
Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month offers an important opportunity to elevate conversations around mental health, reduce stigma, and reinforce the importance of access to care. For DSS, it is also a time to recognize the critical role mental health plays in whole-person Veteran care and the shared responsibility to support better outcomes.
Mental health remains one of the most important and urgent areas of focus across the Department of Veterans Affairs. In FY 2024, more than 1.1 million Veterans received 6.5 million video TeleMental Health care episodes through VA, reflecting both the scale of need and the growing demand for accessible, coordinated support.
This continued growth underscores the importance of meeting Veterans where they are and ensuring timely access to care across a range of settings.
This is especially important because Veteran mental health needs are often shaped by complex experiences including trauma, chronic stress, depression, substance use, and PTSD. VA continues to expand evidence-based treatment models and whole-health strategies designed to improve access, strengthen care coordination, and support long-term recovery.
Mental Health Awareness Month is not only about awareness. It is also about ensuring Veterans know where to turn for support and reminding them that help is available.
The VA continues to promote a wide range of mental health resources through its Mental Health Awareness Month outreach, including the Spread the Word campaign and the Make the Connection initiative, which helps Veterans hear directly from fellow Veterans about their experiences with mental health challenges and recovery. These efforts help normalize conversations around mental health and encourage Veterans to seek support earlier.
For Veterans in crisis or those concerned about a loved one, immediate support is available 24/7 through the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or chatting online at VeteransCrisisLine.net.
Technology has an important role to play in strengthening mental health care delivery, particularly in large, complex care environments where coordination, documentation, and continuity are critical.
At DSS, we believe health IT should help reduce friction for care teams so they can spend less time navigating systems and more time focused on Veterans. That principle extends to behavioral health, where streamlined workflows, stronger interoperability, and better visibility can support more coordinated and responsive care.
This is one reason DSS continues to support solutions that help behavioral health teams improve documentation, strengthen care coordination, and align treatment planning with the needs of Veterans. Technology alone is not the answer, but when designed around clinical realities, it can help remove barriers to better care.
Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder that supporting Veteran well-being requires ongoing commitment, not just awareness in May. It requires sustained investment in access, coordination, and systems that help care teams respond effectively to Veterans’ needs.
DSS remains committed to supporting that mission through technology that strengthens care delivery, reduces burden on clinicians, and helps the VA continue advancing whole-person care for Veterans.
To learn more about how DSS supports safer, more connected care across VA, explore our federal health solutions. Subscribe to our blog page to stay informed of the stories that matter to you.