New rules for troops leaving the military miss mental health obstacles, experts say
BLUF – The article reports that new Pentagon transition policies have shortened the period during which separating service members receive structured support, prompting mental health experts and veterans’ advocates to warn that the changes leave many troops without adequate assistance during the first year after leaving active duty—a time when the risks of depression, substance misuse, unemployment, and suicide are highest. For Navy Medicine, the concerns underscore the importance of ensuring continuity of behavioral healthcare, strengthening warm handoffs to the Department of Veterans Affairs and civilian providers, and recognizing the military-to-civilian transition as a critical period requiring proactive mental health support to preserve long-term wellbeing.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/mental-health-policy-transition