Mental Health Conditions Common to Veterans

Course overview

Veterans are a unique and diverse population with elevated risk for a range of mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, substance use disorders, and suicidality. These conditions often present alongside social stressors such as housing instability, difficulty transitioning to civilian life, and limited access to consistent care. Nurses in all roles and settings must be equipped to recognize, assess, and respond to the distinctive mental health needs of veterans. This continuing education course explores evidence-based, trauma-informed strategies for nursing care of veterans with common mental health conditions. Learners will deepen their understanding of the neurobiology, clinical presentations, and comorbidities that influence treatment, and will build confidence in applying veteran-specific knowledge to clinical decision-making and interdisciplinary collaboration. Learning Objectives By the end of this course, the participant will be able to: Differentiate common mental health conditions seen in veterans, including PTSD, TBI, depression, and substance use disorders. Apply trauma-informed care principles in nursing practice with veteran patients across clinical settings. Identify the role of co-occurring social determinants such as homelessness, stigma, and service transition in veteran mental health outcomes. Recognize dissociative symptoms and neurocognitive sequelae associated with TBI and PTSD. Integrate current clinical guidelines and VA-specific resources into nursing care planning and interdisciplinary collaboration.