Introduction to Veteran Health and Well-being Considerations
Introduction to Veteran Health and Well-being Considerations
Transcript
An effective approach to dealing with student veteran health and well being is to recognize signs of concern, persuade the student veterans to seek help, and refer the veteran to the appropriate resource.
This approach connects the student veteran with professionals who are specifically trained to help with that person's particular concern. Let's take a look at what the veteran health and well being environment looks like on and around any given institution. On college or university campuses, typical resources might include one or more of the following.
A veteran center can provide a student veteran with useful information and/or referrals. The center director or other student veterans who use the center will certainly have experience with veteran issues.
The campus health service or counseling service usually provides care at no or low cost and is physically close. However, these health care providers may not have specific training or experience in working with veterans.
Campus clergy are present on many campuses and may provide comfort to those who are seeking religious or spiritual guidance.
The disability support office, which can be found on every campus, may be able to provide accommodations and/or services to a veteran with a disability. Be careful though, a disability rating through the VA does not necessarily lead to particular accommodations, although documentation from the VA may be appropriate in the accommodation process.
Academic accommodations that may be offered include an extended time on exams or note taker services for example. Residential accommodations might result in permission for an emotional support animal or being placed in quiet or substance free housing.
There are many off campus resources to provide support for the health or well-being of student veterans. VA Health provides a wide range of health services for veterans.
Many routine health and wellness services are provided through a VA community based outpatient clinic while more serious health concerns are handled through a VA Medical Center.
Note that VA medical centers and clinics can be located quite a distance away from campus and getting appointments that work with one's campus schedule can be a challenge.
County and states typically have offices of veterans' services that can assist with or provide resources or referrals to assist with a wide range of veterans issues, including those that center on health and well-being. Calling the office of a local or statewide elected official can often lead to help in dealing with red tape or other problems.
There are many veterans service organizations, VSOs, which provide services, advice, and/or referrals to veterans on a wide range of issues. Try to get to know some of the VSOs in your area to understand what they do as well as how well they do it.
One of the most important resources available to a veteran who is in crisis is the veteran crisis line, or suicide hotline. Veterans can call 1-800-273-8255, send a text message to 838255, or chat online using the URL www.veteranscrisisline.net.
This approach connects the student veteran with professionals who are specifically trained to help with that person's particular concern. Let's take a look at what the veteran health and well being environment looks like on and around any given institution. On college or university campuses, typical resources might include one or more of the following.
A veteran center can provide a student veteran with useful information and/or referrals. The center director or other student veterans who use the center will certainly have experience with veteran issues.
The campus health service or counseling service usually provides care at no or low cost and is physically close. However, these health care providers may not have specific training or experience in working with veterans.
Campus clergy are present on many campuses and may provide comfort to those who are seeking religious or spiritual guidance.
The disability support office, which can be found on every campus, may be able to provide accommodations and/or services to a veteran with a disability. Be careful though, a disability rating through the VA does not necessarily lead to particular accommodations, although documentation from the VA may be appropriate in the accommodation process.
Academic accommodations that may be offered include an extended time on exams or note taker services for example. Residential accommodations might result in permission for an emotional support animal or being placed in quiet or substance free housing.
There are many off campus resources to provide support for the health or well-being of student veterans. VA Health provides a wide range of health services for veterans.
Many routine health and wellness services are provided through a VA community based outpatient clinic while more serious health concerns are handled through a VA Medical Center.
Note that VA medical centers and clinics can be located quite a distance away from campus and getting appointments that work with one's campus schedule can be a challenge.
County and states typically have offices of veterans' services that can assist with or provide resources or referrals to assist with a wide range of veterans issues, including those that center on health and well-being. Calling the office of a local or statewide elected official can often lead to help in dealing with red tape or other problems.
There are many veterans service organizations, VSOs, which provide services, advice, and/or referrals to veterans on a wide range of issues. Try to get to know some of the VSOs in your area to understand what they do as well as how well they do it.
One of the most important resources available to a veteran who is in crisis is the veteran crisis line, or suicide hotline. Veterans can call 1-800-273-8255, send a text message to 838255, or chat online using the URL www.veteranscrisisline.net.