Vet Centers: Free, Confidential Counseling

Veterans and service members, including National Guard and Reserve members, qualify if they:

• Served on active military duty in any combat theater or area of hostility.
• Experienced military sexual trauma (MST), regardless of sex or era of service.
• Provided mortuary services or direct emergency medical care to casualties of war while on active duty.
• Served on an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) crew that directly supported operations in a combat theater or area of hostility.
• Used a Vet Center before January 2, 2013 as a Vietnam-era veteran.
• Served on active duty in response to a presidentially declared national emergency or major disaster, or under a governor's orders for a disaster or civil disorder in that state.
• Are a current or former Coast Guard member who took part in a drug interdiction operation, anywhere.
• Are a current Reserve member in a drilling status with a behavioral health condition or psychological trauma from military service that hurts quality of life or adjustment to civilian life.
• Are using covered VA education benefits and have a readjustment counseling need, related to military service, that gets in the way of civilian life, military service, or school.

MST counseling and referral are available at every Vet Center to any veteran or service member, from any era, including the Guard and Reserve.

Family members can take part when it supports the veteran's or service member's goals.

Vet Centers also give free, confidential bereavement counseling to family members of:

• Armed Forces members who died in the service of the country.
• Reservists and National Guard members who died while on duty.
• A veteran who was receiving Vet Center services at death, if the death was unexpected or happened during hospice or similar care.
• Veterans and service members who died by suicide.

• Vet Center Call Center: 877-927-8387, 24/7.
• Find the nearest Vet Center: va.gov/find-locations.
• In crisis: Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net/chat. You do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care.