Mental health support available to veterans
Veterans who are struggling with their mental health are encouraged to reach out for support.
Any veteran who has completed one day of full-time service in the ADF can get free mental health treatment through DVA. So can Reservists who have completed disaster relief service, border protection service or who were involved in a serious training accident.
This treatment is provided under Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) arrangements. Under NLHC, mental health conditions do not need to be related to military service. The treatment can be accessed for as long as you need it, at no cost to you.
A Veteran Gold Card or White Card is used to pay for mental health treatment under NLHC. Gold Cards automatically cover mental health. Many veterans already have mental health treatment on their White Card. To check if your White Card covers mental health treatment, or to apply for a non-liability mental health White Card if you don’t already have one, you can use DVA’s MyService app or call DVA on 1800 VETERAN.
Before making a medical appointment, check with each provider that they will accept Veteran Cards for payment. DVA also offers free and confidential counselling services to veterans and their families, available 24/7 through Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling. For more information or support call 1800 011 046 or visit www.openarms.gov.au.
For more information about NLHC (mental health) visit the DVA website.