Honoring Those Who Served Our Nation with Respect and Resources
According to DAV, a nonprofit that provides support to veterans, there are roughly 1 million service members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. This Veteran’s Day, we celebrate and thank the million and countless more who fought for our country.
The mental and physical health of our veterans is important. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) reported that 41% of their patients have a diagnosed mental illness or substance use disorder. The annual prevalence of mental illness among US lesbian, gay or bisexual individuals was reported to be 37.4% and it is noted that people with serious mental illnesses are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. Given these statistics, it is important for service members in the queer community to know what resources are available to them.
The VHA works to treat veterans with dignity and respect, which includes addressing people based on their self-identified gender identity. Did you know that each VA facility is required to provide staff who can help members of the LGBTQ+ community find the services they need?
DAV notes that VA facilities are authorized to provide services such as hormone treatment, substance use/alcohol treatment, and information and treatment on preventing sexually transmitted infections. While facilities can provide care prior to and following gender confirming surgery, VHA does not perform nor pay for the surgery itself. It does, however, provide letters of support to help veterans qualify to receive gender confirming surgery in another facility.
VA’s website helps to outline resources that might be further useful to veterans. Their supporting coverage includes assistance with mental health challenges, from substance abuse to anxiety.
If you or a veteran you know is interested in helping others understand more about the health and experience of veterans, there is a way! Researchers at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System are looking for participants for their Health for Every Veteran Study. The study includes a confidential, web-based questionnaire that is to be completed every 9 months for approximately 2 years. Because all research activities are completed online, it does not require in-person visits. See how you can participate today here!