Approximately 4 million U.S. service members took part in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shortly after troops started returning from their deployments, some active-duty service members and veterans began experiencing mental health problems. Given the stressors associated with war, it is not surprising that some service members developed such mental health conditions as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorder. Subsequent epidemiologic studies conducted on military and veteran populations that served in the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq provided scientific evidence that those who fought were in fact being diagnosed with mental illnesses and experiencing mental healthâ€"related outcomesâ€"in particular, suicideâ€"at a higher rate than the general population. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the quality, capacity, and access to mental health care services for veterans who served in the Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn. It includes an analysis of not only the quality and capacity of mental health care services within the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also barriers faced by patients in utilizing those services.

This guide is designed to provide Veterans and their families with the information they need to understand VA's health care system - eligibility requirements, health benefits and services available to help Veterans and copayments that certain Veterans may be charged. Updated Topics and Benefits: Stay Connected with VA p. 2 Combat Veterans can Apply for Enrollment by Telephone p. 3 Seamless Care for Traveling Veterans p. 7 Enrolled, but Later Determined Ineligible p. 15 Free Transportation to VA Appointments p. 33 Audience: Military veterans and their families seeking to use the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care system and learn more about how it works, with contact information for a variety of VA health care services. Related products: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors 2016 iis available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/051-000-00258-0 Code of Federal Regulations, Title 38, Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief, Pt. 0-17, Revised as of July 1, 2016 is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/869-084-00145-6 Code of Federal Regulations, Title 38, Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief, Pt. 18-End, Revised as of July 1, 2016 is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/869-084-00146-4