Table of Contents
Support from Family and Friends
Family members and friends play a critical role in a Veteran’s life, especially during difficult times. Support is available every day for Veterans, service members, caregivers, and their families and friends to connect them with the resources they need to improve their lives. Whatever issues you and your loved one may face, you are not alone.
Transitioning from service into civilian life is hard. Going from a structured, supportive environment where everything is provided to a less-supportive and less-structured competitive environment with lots of options can be overwhelming.
How well and how fast a Veteran recovers from visible and invisible wounds depends greatly on whether he or she gets support from family, friends, and professionals. However, that support should not come at the expense of that family or friend’s own health and welfare.
Other helpful topics for families and friends include the following:
Resources for Family and Friends
- Coaching Into Care – This VA program provides guidance for helping family members encourage their Veterans to get on a better track. Free, confidential assistance is available by calling 1-888-823-7458 or emailing CoachingIntoCare@va.gov.
- VA Caregiver Support – The VA Caregiver Support Program offers training, educational resources, and a variety of tools to help you succeed. Call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855–260–3274 for advice on being a Caregiver.
- National Center for PTSD: Help for Family and Friends – The National Center for PTSD provides information about the effects of Veterans’ trauma on their families, children, relationships, and communities, as well as resources and support to help Veterans and their family members and friends to respond and cope with those effects.
- Mental Health.Gov has lots of helpful information for Veterans and everyone around them as well as a service locator.
- Type “Family & Friends” in the search box at FindHelp.org for free or low cost services.
Local Help
Know A Vet? presents this information and these national resource directories, not as a recommendation of any specific service or provider, but as a starting point for your own research.
Please feel free to use the check sheets Before, During and After the Medical Appointment and Choosing a Medical Service Provider to help you in your search for the best help for your individual circumstances.
In addition, there may be other federal, state and local government or private resources for your individual needs. A VSO counselor may be able to help you find them.
While we strongly urge you to take advantage of all you have earned through your service, we understand there are many reasons why you may prefer non-VA service providers.
Here are some places to start:
Learn More – Get More
Learn more about what it feels like to live your best life. Go to our Self Help page to explore other issues that can bring you “All The Way Home.”
Also, check out the Claims and Appeals topic to maximize compensation and benefits for yourself AND your loved ones.
It’s your turn to get your best life back! You EARNED it with your service!
