Veterans’ Health Resources Tennessee Brighter Futures Logo 9 overlapping circles forming one larger circle. The topmost circle is a light teal. They get progressively darker, then move into blues, then purples. The words Tennessee Brighter Futures are to the right of the logo. About Veterans Health Veterans are people “who served in the active military, naval, air or space service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” (Discover.va.gov) Annually, about 250,000 women and men leave or retire from U.S. military service and begin their experience of returning to civilian life. Veterans make up 15.8 million people, or 6.1% of the total U.S. adult civilian population. (Census.gov) Some of the common challenges U.S. veterans face include: • Difficulties Transitioning from Active Duty to Civilian Life • Experiencing Post Traumatic Stress and Gaps in Mental Health Support • Missing the Camaraderie, Community, and Purpose Found While Serving • Access to Benefits for Underserved Veterans • Lack of Proper Transportation for Disabled Veterans • Homelessness Mission Roll Call, 2024 Overlap with Brain Injury More than 450,000 military members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from 2000 to late 2021. (Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center) Most injuries were mild, but a mild injury does not necessarily guarantee a mild outcome. Eighty-four percent of veterans with mTBI (mild) had greater combat exposure; less social support; and more comorbidities, including asthma, PTSD, sleeping problems, worse pain scores and slower processing speed. Service members with TBIs have higher rates of PTSD, depressive disorder, substance use disorder, and anxiety disorder than those without TBI. “Active service members and Veterans with a combat-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) are four times more likely to attempt suicide than those without a TBI” (Moceri-Brooks, et al., 2024). Many service members did not receive Purple Hearts for their TBIs. “...Not receiving the Purple Heart is associated with increased suicide risk and lower quality of life after a brain injury” (Moceri-Brooks, et al., 2024). In addition, some service members experience “moral injuries” such as “perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations” (Litz, Stein, et al., 2009). These events can impact them “emotionally, psychologically, behaviorally, spiritually, and socially” (Litz, Stein, et al., 2009). Best practice is to screen veterans who enter any treatment program for a lifetime history of brain injury; screen for cognitive and functional impairment; train personnel about brain injuries and how to accommodate for changes; educate the person about their brain injury and refer to community-based resources for support. Crisis Intervention Tools Tennessee Brighter Futures Logo 9 overlapping circles forming one larger circle. The topmost circle is a light teal. They get progressively darker, then move into blues, then purples. The words Tennessee Brighter Futures are to the right of the logo. Veterans Crisis Hotline Logo with blue star on left, red dots in rows to the right like the US flag and text Dial 988, then press 1 Veterans Crisis Hotline Dial 988, then press 1 or text 838255 or chat online: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ Signs of Crisis https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/signs-of-crisis/ Search Local VA Crisis Resources https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/find-resources/local-resources/ Screening Tools NASHIA’s OBISSS (Online Brain Injury Screening and Support System) Ohio State University TBI Identification Method - a screening tool for Brain Injury Substance Abuse Screenings in Tennessee (SBIRT-TN) Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: SBIRT is a substance abuse screening and referral to treatment initiative. It is patient-centered and offers education and early intervention to identify and address substance misuse in primary care settings. Patients are asked about their substance use confidentially. Mental Health Screening Tools: depression, anxiety, alcohol and substance use, bipolar, youth mental health, youth mental health (for parents), PTSD, psychosis. State Websites State Benefits for Veterans in Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury: Office Of Research and Education Accountability https://comptroller.tn.gov/content/dam/cot/orea/advanced-search/2021/VeteransReport.pdf State Laws Regarding Veteran Benefits https://www.tn.gov/veteran/veteran-benefits/tn-state-benefits.html U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare https://www.va.gov/tennessee-valley- health-care/locations/ Apply for Healthcare (VHA) in person - fill out and submit VA Form 10-10EZ along with a copy of your DD-214 at your local VA Medical Center, online https://www.va.gov/health- care/apply/application/introduction, or call your local VA medical center and request a PCP (Primary Care Provider) appointment 1-877-222-VETS (8387) National Websites Human Development Forum Foundation https://hdff.org/moral-injury-in-a-humanitarian-context/ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs https://www.va.gov/ Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors and Caregivers 2025 edition https://news.va.gov/137659/spread-the-word-the-2025-veterans-benefits-guide-is-now-available/ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Moral Injury and PTSD, What is Moral Injury? https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/aboutface/moral-injury-and-ptsd/ Page 2 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Supportive Services for Veteran Families https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.html Tennessee Brighter Futures Logo 9 overlapping circles forming one larger circle. The topmost circle is a light teal. They get progressively darker, then move into blues, then purples. The words Tennessee Brighter Futures are to the right of the logo. Veterans Crisis Hotline Logo with blue star on left, red dots in rows to the right like the US flag and text Dial 988, then press 1 Veteran Readiness and Employment (Vocational Rehabilitation Services) https://www.va.gov/careers- employment/vocational-rehabilitation/ Seven Common Problems Veterans Face and How to Address Them https://missionrollcall.org/veteran- voices/articles/seven-common-problems-veterans-face-and-how-to-address-them/ Infographics Common Symptoms with Moral Injury and PTSD https://www.ethicalpsychology.com/2020/04/treating- moral-injuries.html Brain Injury and Co-Occurring Conditions https://www.tndisability.org/sites/default/files/2025- 09/BI%20%26%20Veterans%20TBF%20Infographic%20Final%202025.pdf Toolkits Building Capacity of Veteran Treatment Courts: Resources for Brain Injury Programs https://www.nashia.org/veteran-treatment-courts Trainings Invisible Wounds of Service: PTSD, TBI and Moral Injury Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLzPZFHppEg 90 min. This informative webinar discussed the profound impact of PTSD, TBI, and moral injury on our nation's service members and Veterans. Experts in the field explored the complexities of these invisible wounds, offering insights into their diagnosis and treatment, as well as the critical need for comprehensive, community-based support systems to help our Veterans heal and thrive. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) online modules. Paid and free modules of various topics for military and civilians. Podcasts/Videos The Lasting Mission https://missionrollcall.org/the-lasting-mission/ PsychArmor “15 Things Veterans Want You to Know” 15 min. video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0E7wbLmu8A TN Brighter Futures groups that are a part of this System of Care: Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Page 3 Brain Links boilerplate with these logos: Brain Links, Administration for Community Living, TBI State Partnership Program, TN Disability Coalition and Kid Central. Also the BL website tndisability.org/brain and Facebook name @BrainLinksTN.