Service changes you, and for many veterans the hardest part comes after the uniform comes off. Struggling with your mental health after the ADF is common, it is nothing to be ashamed of, and importantly, support is there, often sooner and more easily than people expect.
This guide explains how to get help, including treatment you can access without lodging a claim, where to start, and how compensation fits in. For mental health conditions specifically, see our articles on PTSD and the DVA medical conditions hub.
If you need support now
Open Arms, Veterans and Families Counselling offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day, for veterans and their families: 1800 011 046. You can also call Lifeline any time on 13 11 14. If life is in danger, call 000.
Article at a glance
- You can get fully funded treatment without lodging a claim, through Non-Liability Health Care.
- You don’t have to prove your service caused it to get that treatment.
- One day of full-time service is enough to be eligible for mental health treatment.
- Treatment and compensation are separate. Getting help now does not harm a future claim.
The mental health side of service
The things that come with service, exposure to trauma, long separations, the constant readiness, and then the loss of structure and identity when you transition out, can take a real toll. Conditions like post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, adjustment difficulties and trouble sleeping are common among veterans, and they often surface gradually, sometimes years after discharge. None of it means you are weak or broken. It means you served, and your mind carried a load. The good news is that these conditions are treatable, and the earlier you reach out, the better things tend to go.
You can get treatment without a claim
This is the part many veterans do not realise. Through Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC), DVA fully funds treatment for any mental health condition, and you do not have to prove your service caused it. You do not even need a confirmed diagnosis to start. It is designed to get you help early, without the wait or the pressure of a compensation claim.
Who is eligible, and what it covers
- Current and former full-time ADF members are eligible, and reservists with at least one day of continuous full-time service. A single day is enough.
- You access it with a Veteran White Card that covers mental health. Gold Card holders are already covered.
- It covers GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health social workers, hospital care, prescribed medication, DVA-recognised alcohol and drug programs, and Open Arms counselling.
Where to start
- Talk to your GP. They can assess what is going on and refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for fully funded treatment.
- Call Open Arms on 1800 011 046. It is free, confidential and available any time, for you and your family, and it can be a gentle first step or run alongside other treatment.
- Apply for NLHC mental health cover. You can do this through MyService or by lodging the application form, which gives you the White Card cover for treatment.
Treatment and compensation are two different things
It is worth being clear on the difference. NLHC gives you treatment without proving your service caused the condition. A compensation claim is separate, that is where DVA formally accepts your mental health condition as service-related, which can open up permanent impairment compensation and other support. Getting treatment now does not harm a future claim. In fact, the treatment records you build are often exactly the evidence that supports one later. If your condition is connected to your service, it is worth claiming for, and that is where our team comes in.
Looking after yourself day to day
Professional treatment does the heavy lifting, but the everyday things matter too. Staying connected to people you trust, keeping some structure in your week, moving your body, protecting your sleep, and leaning on the veteran community rather than going it alone all help. Recovery is rarely a straight line, and a tough week is not a failure. The veterans who do best are usually the ones who reached out and kept reaching out, not the ones who tried to tough it out on their own.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to prove my service caused it to get treatment?
No. Treatment for mental health conditions under Non-Liability Health Care is funded without you having to prove a link to your service. That requirement only applies to a compensation claim, which is a separate process.
Will getting treatment now affect a future claim?
It will not harm it. Treatment and compensation are separate, and the records from your treatment often help support a claim down the track by documenting the condition over time. There is no reason to delay getting help.
Can my family get support too?
Yes. Open Arms provides free, confidential counselling for the families of veterans as well as veterans themselves, on 1800 011 046. The effects of service are often felt by the whole household, and support is there for them too.
Is your condition connected to your service?
Get treatment first, you do not need a claim for that. But if your mental health condition is service-related, it is worth claiming for. Our expert team can help you lodge and support a claim for compensation.
Related from KSC Law
- PTSD and DVA claims
- DVA medical conditions hub
- Getting the right DVA diagnosis
- DVA claims and the claims process