Immediate Help: The Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans and their families with caring, qualified responders — many of them veterans themselves. Dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care or registered with the VA to use it. All veterans can also receive free emergency suicide-related care at any facility, VA or non-VA, under the COMPACT Act.

New York State Mental Health Programs

PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program

Named for an Iraq War combat medic who died after struggling with PTSD, the Dwyer Program funds county-run, veteran-to-veteran peer support across New York State. Each participating county operates its own program — peer support groups, one-on-one mentoring, and social events led by fellow veterans — with no clinical paperwork, no VA enrollment, and no cost. Most New York counties now run a Dwyer program (sometimes called "Vet2Vet"); find yours through your county veterans service agency, the NYS Dwyer Coalition (josephpdwyerpeerproject.org), or in New York City through the Department of Veterans' Services (nyc.gov/vets).

New York State Department of Veterans' Services

NYS DVS Veterans Benefits Advisors work in offices across the state, helping veterans access VA mental health care, file claims for service-connected mental health conditions, and connect with county and community programs. Call 1-888-838-7697 (1-888-VETS-NYS) to reach an advisor.

County Veterans Service Agencies

Nearly every New York county operates a veterans service agency that pairs benefits help with local mental health referrals — and in Dwyer counties, the service agency is usually the front door to the peer program too.

New York City Veterans

NYC's Department of Veterans' Services runs its own Dwyer peer-support programming and connects veterans across the five boroughs to VA NY Harbor, the Bronx VA, Vet Centers in every borough, and NYC Health + Hospitals behavioral health services.

VA Mental Health Services in New York

VA mental health care in New York is delivered through VA NY Harbor Healthcare System and the state's network of 50+ community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). Services include:

• Individual and group therapy for depression, anxiety, and adjustment challenges
• Evidence-based PTSD treatment including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and EMDR
• Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment — outpatient counseling, intensive programs, and medication-assisted treatment
• Medication management with VA psychiatrists and mental health providers
• Telehealth appointments so veterans in rural New York can get care without long drives

Enrolled veterans can request a mental health appointment through their primary care team, by calling their VA facility directly, or via My HealtheVet secure messaging. Same-day mental health access is available at VA medical centers for urgent needs.

VA Facilities Serving New York Veterans

• VA NY Harbor Healthcare System
• James J. Peters VA Medical Center (Bronx)
• VA Western New York Healthcare System (Buffalo)
• Albany Stratton VA Medical Center

Vet Centers: Free Counseling, No Enrollment Needed

Vet Centers provide free, confidential readjustment counseling to combat veterans, survivors of military sexual trauma, and their families — completely separate from VA medical records and with no enrollment requirement. Counseling covers PTSD, grief, military sexual trauma, and transition stress. Find your nearest New York Vet Center at va.gov/find-locations (choose "Vet Centers"), or call 1-877-927-8387 (the 24/7 Vet Center Call Center) any time.

Substance Use and Recovery Support

VA substance use programs in New York range from outpatient counseling to residential rehabilitation treatment programs (RRTPs). Veterans can self-refer — you do not need to wait for a provider to bring it up. SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is another free, confidential, 24/7 referral line that covers community treatment options throughout New York.

Getting Started

• In crisis: Dial 988, then press 1 — available 24/7, no enrollment required
• Want veteran-to-veteran support: Ask your county veterans service agency for its Dwyer (Vet2Vet) peer program
• Benefits and referrals: NYS Veterans Benefits Advisors at 1-888-838-7697 (1-888-VETS-NYS)
• Enrolled in VA care: Call VA NY Harbor Healthcare System and ask for a same-day mental health appointment
• Not enrolled: Contact your nearest Vet Center (1-877-927-8387) for free counseling, or apply for VA health care at VA.gov or 1-877-222-8387
• State help: Contact the New York State Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) for local referrals and peer support programs