Veterans, Families: New Resources
SAMHSA recently introduced a new Web page to highlight available resources for veterans and their
families.
The new page—www.samhsa.gov/vets—provides needed information on prevention, treatment,
and recovery support for mental and substance use disorders.
 Veterans and their families face many challenges both before and after service members are deployed.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse, and suicide are just a few of them.
Veterans also may carry memories of trauma, injury, and mental health issues.
“Establishing mental health and substance abuse resources for veterans is a priority for
SAMHSA,” said SAMHSA Administrator Terry L. Cline, Ph.D. “We have a moral obligation
to marshal resources to address the challenges that our service members and their families are
facing. This new Web page will help us in our continued efforts to reach out and provide them
with support.”
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Special Features
The new Web page features links to related brochures that describe mental health and substance
abuse issues and offer guidance on finding help. It also provides links to relevant agencies,
SAMHSA Web cast and conference materials, and statistical reports on veterans’ issues.
Features include a self-help guide for dealing with the effects of trauma, advice for parents
who are helping their children cope with fear and anxiety, and information on SAMHSA’s National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-TALK.
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Continued Outreach
The Agency recently convened a meeting with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S.
Department of Defense, and various national veterans service organizations.
The points raised during this meeting will help SAMHSA to develop guidance materials for states,
local communities, and providers to ensure a coordinated, national approach to providing mental
health and substance use services.
To access the new SAMHSA Web page, Resources for Returning Veterans and Their Families, visit
www.samhsa.gov/vets. For more on veterans' mental health and substance abuse issues, read a series of articles featured in SAMHSA News, May/June 2006. 
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