Military and Veterans

APA Services works to support military personnel and veterans, as well as their families, caregivers, and communities while promoting the psychologists who conduct health research and provide direct services to these military-connected populations.

Our focus

Promote mental health and well-being of service members, veterans, and their families
APA Services advocates for policies that prevent suicide, promote the use of evidence-based psychotherapies in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), ensure mental health promotion is included in the transition from active duty to veteran status, promote health research relevant to military personnel and veterans, and protect integrated care at the VA while opposing its privatization.
Provide targeted support for military populations at risk for mental health challenges
This includes National Guard and Reserve members; women service members and veterans; families and caregivers; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) service members and veterans; wounded or disabled service members and veterans; those with other than honorable discharges; those with other than honorable discharges; those involved in criminal justice; and those who are students.
Advocate for the interests of practicing psychologists
Our work includes advocacy to promote psychologists as key providers, leaders, trainers, mentors, researchers, and administrators in health care with military and veteran populations. We also advocate for full Title 38 status for VA psychologists, prescribing authority for VA psychologists, promotion of DoD and VA psychologists within the larger military and veteran health care space, and training more psychologists as providers of care to military and veteran populations.

Our efforts on this issue advance the following advocacy priorities:

Access to health services, including mental and behavioral health services
Funding and promotion of basic, clinical, and applied psychological research
Health equity for underserved and vulnerable populations
Health promotion and prevention throughout lifespan and settings
Violence and suicide prevention

The dedication to advancing the science and practice of psychology in public service settings serves all of psychology.
—Arthur C. Evans, Jr., PhD

What you can do

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Related issues

Contact us

K. Conwell Smith
Deputy Chief, Military and Veterans Policy

Email APA Advocacy Office

Recent advocacy on military personnel and Veterans

APA Services welcomes five new members to the Advocacy Coordinating Committee

November 4, 2025

APA Services welcomes five new members to its Advocacy Coordinating Committee, which guides the association’s advocacy priorities each year. Meet the new appointees shaping psychology’s voice in public policy

Calling on Congress to protect veterans’ mental health

May 14, 2025

In statements for the record submitted to both the House and Senate veterans affairs committees, APA Services focuses on the future of veterans’ health care and ensuring privacy and confidentiality for veterans and VA mental health care providers

Three members appointed to the Advocacy Coordinating Committee

October 2, 2024

The Advocacy Coordinating Committee (ACC) is charged with recommending the association’s advocacy priorities to the Board of Directors. Evelyn Burrell, Tamara Morris, Christopher Nguyen have been appointed to serve on the ACC.

A military service member sitting in a therapy session with a psychologist

Psychedelic-assisted therapy

October 2, 2024

APA participated in a congressional roundtable on psychedelic-assisted therapy in the VA.

More on military and veterans

Advocating to protect veterans’ mental health research

APA Services joins over 70 organizations in letter to the U.S. Senate calling for swift passage of the VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act (VIPER Act).

Statement for the Record: Committee on Veterans' Affairs US Senate (PDF, 258KB) opens in new window

Statement for the record for the July 12, 2023 hearing on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) utilization of care in the community, prevention of veteran suicide and other veterans related bills.

Last updated: October 2024Date created: October 2021