Here at We ❤️ Health Literacy HQ, we’ve spent the past decade listening to Veterans and designing mental health information based on their feedback. Along the way, we’ve learned about challenges that many Veterans face as they transition from military service to civilian life. We’re concerned that recent federal funding cuts and diminishing support for Veterans’ health research, mental health care, and other vital services could make it more difficult for Veterans to manage these challenges.
For example, some Veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), develop chronic pain, or lose mobility because of events that happened during their service. Social determinants of health also play a key role in Veterans’ health outcomes. As Veterans readjust to civilian life, many struggle to find work, contributing to financial instability and housing insecurity. If a Veteran can’t afford basic needs like safe housing, getting regular medical care becomes that much harder.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides health care to thousands of Veterans every year — but the system can be confusing to navigate. Understanding eligibility rules and accessing care can be overwhelming, especially for Veterans with complex health needs. In this enlightening article, Veteran Jenn Kerfoot describes the transition from military to civilian life as “a leap into the unknown” — especially when it comes to health care. Jenn says it best: “In the military, every aspect of your health care is meticulously managed for you. Terms like coverage, eligibility, copayments, and scheduling complexities are foreign languages. But upon being discharged, a Veteran is in uncharted waters, navigating a sea of administrative tasks that are as crucial as they are bewildering.”
As health communicators, we have an opportunity to help Veterans navigate the complex health care system by making health information clear, accessible, and actionable. When you’re designing health info for Veterans, keep these tips in mind:
- Co-design with Veterans. Focus groups, in-depth interviews, and usability testing are just a few ways to involve Veterans in the process of creating communication materials. Even if you’re developing materials for a broader audience, including Veterans in formative research and testing is a great way to make sure your materials reflect Veterans’ perspectives. (Want to brush up on your moderation skils? Check out these simple tips.)
- Partner with organizations that serve Veterans, like American Veterans (AMVets) or Disabled American Veterans (DAV).Teaming up with organizations that serve your audience can amplify your reach and reinforce the credibility of your materials.
- Prioritize accessibility. Of course, it’s always important to make communication materials accessible, but we’re including this special shoutout because Veterans are more likely to be living with a disability. According to the U.S. Census, about a third of Veterans have a disability related to their military service. So when you’re designing for Veterans, be sure to follow accessibility best practices like including alt text, building in plenty of white space, and using high color contrast.
- Highlight crisis resources. Help Veterans access mental health support when they need it most. Direct readers to resources like the Veterans Crisis Line, which offers free, 24/7 support by phone, text message, and online chat.
- Share peer support resources. We’re proud to support AboutFace, a VA website where Veterans can learn about PTSD from others who’ve been there. Veterans can also access peer support services through VA. And organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project and National Association of Minority Veterans (NAMVETS) can help Veterans connect with others who share similar experiences.
The bottom line: Veterans may face increasing barriers to health care, but health communicators can help by making Veterans’ health information clear, accessible, and actionable.
Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): Help #Veterans access care by making health information clear, actionable, and accessible. Check out these tips from CommunicateHealth: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/health-comm-for-the-current-moment-serving-those-who-served/ #HealthComm #HealthCommunication
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