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Veterans' Growing Demand for Mental Health Services

GAO-21-545SP Published: May 17, 2021. Publicly Released: May 17, 2021.
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Fast Facts

The number of veterans receiving mental health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs increased 90% from FY 2006-2019. During this time, VA's mental health budget increased from $2.4 to $8.9 billion.

  • VA projects a 32% increase in outpatient mental health care over 10 years
  • Preventing suicide is VA's highest priority; veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide
  • VA conducts outreach to raise awareness of mental health services, yet some veterans may remain unaware
  • Telehealth visits for mental health increased by over 200% in the first 8 months of the pandemic

A medical professional looking at a screen providing telehealth services to a patient

Highlights

What GAO Found

This capsule examines how VA plans to meet the need for mental health care among veterans. In this capsule, GAO cites policy considerations and reiterates recommendations to the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Recommendations

In this capsule, GAO cites policy considerations and reiterates recommendations to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Full Report

Full Report (2 pages)

GAO Contacts

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Topics

Health Care
CrisisGrant programsHealth benefitsHealth care policiesHealth care servicesMental healthMental health servicespandemicsPost-traumatic stress disordersPrimary careRisk factorsSuicideSuicide preventionTherapyVeteransVeterans affairsVeterans health care