Officials with Veterans Affairs (VA) are launching an outreach texting campaign that is set to include text messages and emails sent directly to veterans, public service announcements, paid advertising, and events.
VA is launching this campaign after reports of mental health concerns potentially related to repeated blast exposure and head trauma. Veterans enrolled in the VA are encouraged to participate in specialty screenings and services to address any health issues related to blast exposure. Importantly, veterans who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other specific locations are eligible for VA healthcare based on their deployment location.
“We take veteran concerns about repeated blast exposure very seriously, and we are studying this matter urgently to learn more about potential health impacts,” Former VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a press release about the campaign. “While we do that, we don’t want veterans to wait – they should enroll in VA healthcare today to get full access to primary care, mental health care, regular screenings, specialty care, and more. That’s what this outreach effort is all about: getting veterans in our care, because veterans who come to [the] VA are proven to do better.”
This campaign follows an initiative earlier this year, where officials with the VA declared all veterans who had been exposed to toxins as eligible to enroll directly in VA healthcare. Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States are also eligible to enroll. Additionally, veterans who do not meet any of the above criteria can often still access VA healthcare by receiving VA disability benefits or income-based care.
Reference
- Veterans Affairs. Amid concerns about blast exposure, VA launches new outreach campaign to enroll veterans in health care [press release]. December 4, 2024. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://news.va.gov/press-room/amid-concerns-about-blast-exposure-va-launches-new-outreach-campaign-to-enroll-veterans-in-health-care/
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