Coaching Into Care eNews

Family members play a key role in encouraging their Veteran to seek help. While family members most frequently use our service (72% of our callers), anyone with concerns about a Veteran may call Coaching Into Care (CIC):

• A spouse worried about withdrawal and emotional distancing
• A mother not knowing what else to do for her Veteran daughter who isolates all day, cannot find work and snaps when asked what's wrong
• Grandparents worried about drugs or alcohol
• Sons and daughters desperate to help their depressed parent
• Friends, bosses, providers, community members 

CIC Call Responders and Coaches have expertise in understanding and navigating the services and programs at VA Facilities across the country and in talking with family members about their concerns. We provide a listening ear and psycho-education, assess needs and strengths, and help problem-solve the steps callers can take to support their Veteran in making a decision to seek professional help.

The following is a fictionalized case offering illustrating the work CIC does. All identifying information has been changed.

Carrie called with concerns about her daughter, an Army Veteran diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia who may have relapsed. Her daughter received treatment at the VA but wasn't taking her medication. Carrie and her daughter's relationship was strained and Carrie was afraid to confront her, fearing it might escalate her paranoia. Carrie felt overwhelmed and frustrated. A Call Responder provided support and reinforced her use of NAMI family groups. Because the caller was still in distress and the Veteran under-engaged in care, a referral to Coaching was made.

Over the next few weeks, a Coach provided support, hope and psycho-education about major mental illness. The Coach initially worked with Carrie to find ways to rebuild rapport with her daughter and increase positive family interactions. Carrie shared the coaching tips with other relatives as well.  As things started to improve, Carrie began to feel more hopeful and was able to communicate her concerns with her daughter. The Coach worked with Carrie to identify potential treatment options and how to present these to her daughter. Within a few months, the Veteran agreed to attend Behavioral Family Therapy for Serious Psychiatric Illness with a psychologist at the VA.

Need a hand helping your Veteran get into care? Reach out to us.
888-823-7458 M-F 8AM-8PM EDT

We know what it means to say that families also serve. Research has shown that Army wives whose husbands deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan suffered higher rates of depression, sleep problems, anxiety, stress reactions and adjustment disorders than wives whose husbands didn't deploy. VA's Coaching Into Care helpline works with callers to maintain adequate Self-Care and, when appropriate, refer them to support resources for serious mental illness, substance abuse, free counseling, or family treatment at the VA. With their internal resources shored up, family members are in a better position to support their Veteran getting help.

Read more about this research

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