San Francisco VA Student Veteran Health Program

Your SF VA Student Veteran Health Program Team

A collaboration between the San Francisco VA Health Care System and City College of San Francisco (CCSF), the Student Veteran Health Program (SVHP) began in August 2010 and has led the nation in providing an array of comprehensive services to student veterans on campus.

The SVHP is one of ~26 funded VA programs under the Veterans Integrative to Academic Leadership (VITAL) initiative, part of the VA’s national effort to outreach and provide services to support student veterans.

Resources

What We Do

Services

Availability

Don't Have a VA Health Care ID Card?

WHAT	Have you taken your photo for the new VA ID card? Have you enrolled in VA health care? Have you enrolled in the SF VA?
WHEN	Call 415-200-6933 and/or 415-845-0996 for our SVHP availability to assist you!!
WHERE	In-Person: CCSF Ocean Campus, Cloud Hall Room 333 (50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco CA 94112)
DETAILS	You can take a photo for your VA ID Card and Enroll in VA Health Care at the CCSF Veterans Resource Center! BRING A COPY OF YOUR DD-214 TO ENROLL IN VA HEALTH CARE Bring One Form of Government ID (Driver's License, Passport, Military ID card, etc.) to obtain your VA ID Card NOTE: the card will be mailed to your address on record w/the SF VA within about two weeks YOU MUST BE ENROLLED IN VA HEALH CARE TO OBTAIN A VA ID CARD This is open to all CCSF Veterans, let's get connected with our VA and learn about other benefits and resources!

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Resources Available Right Now

Veterans Crisis Line
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 988, then PRESS 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
- For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
Vet Centers
Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
VA Mental Health Services Guide- This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.
MakeTheConnection.net- information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
Download VA's self-help apps - Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.

Common Reactions for Veterans Transitioning from the Military to Life as a Student Veteran in Higher Education

Feel frustrated, sad, helpless, grief or distressed
Feel angry or betrayed
Experience an increase in mental health symptoms like symptoms of PTSD or depression
Sleep poorly, drink more or use more drugs
Try to avoid all reminders or media or shy away from social situations
Have more military and homecoming memories

Veterans may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth the sacrifices they made. They may feel more moral distress about experiences they had during their service.

Veterans may feel like they need to expect and/or prepare for the worst. For example, they may:

Become overly protective, vigilant, and guarded
Become preoccupied by danger
Feel a need to avoid being shocked by, or unprepared for, what may happen in the future

Feeling distress is a normal reaction to negative events, especially ones that feel personal. It can be helpful to let yourself feel those feelings rather than try to avoid them. Often, these feelings will naturally run their course. If they continue without easing up or if you feel overwhelmed by them, the suggestions below can be helpful.

Strategies for Managing Ongoing Distress

Remember that now is just one moment in time and that things will continue to change.

It can be helpful to focus on the present and to engage in the activities that are most meaningful and valuable to you. Is there something you can do today that is important to you? This can be as an individual, a family member, a parent, or a community member. Something that is meaningful to you in regard to your work or your spirituality? Such activities won’t change the past or the things you can’t control, but they can help life feel meaningful and reduce distress, despite the things you cannot change.

It can also help to consider your thinking. Ask yourself if your thoughts are helpful to you right now. Are there ways you can change your thinking to be more accurate and less distressing? For example, are you using extreme thinking where you see the situation as all bad or all good? If so, try and think in less extreme terms.

Finally, consider more general coping strategies that you may want to try including:

Engage in Positive Activities. Try to engage in positive, healthy, or meaningful activities, even if they are small, simple actions. Doing things that are rewarding, meaningful, or enjoyable, even if you don’t feel like it, can make you feel better.
Stay Connected. Spend time with people who give you a sense of security, calm, or happiness, or those who best understand what you are going through.
Practice Good Self Care. Look for positive coping strategies that help you manage your emotions. Listening to music, exercising, practicing breathing routines, spending time in nature or with animals, journaling, or reading inspirational text are some simple ways to help manage overwhelming or distressing emotions.
Stick to Your Routines. It can be helpful to stick to a schedule for when you sleep, eat, work, and do other day-to-day activities.
Limit Media Exposure. Limit how much news you take in if media coverage is increasing your distress.
Use a mobile app. Consider one of VA’s self-help apps (see https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/) such as PTSD Coach which has tools that can help you deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
PTSD Coach Online. A series of online video coaches will guide you through 17 tools to help you manage stress. PTSD Coach Online is used on a computer, rather than a mobile device, and therefore can offer tools that involve writing.

If you develop your own ways of adapting to ongoing events and situations, you may gain a stronger sense of being able to deal with challenges, a greater sense of meaning or purpose, and an ability to mentor and support others in similar situations.

Find a VA Facility near you. FACILITY LOCATOR

Not sure where to start? VA WELCOME KIT

Need to Contact VA?

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
visit the Crises Line Chat page, or Text 838255
Homeless Veteran Resources: 1-877-424-3838
Chat with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
White House VA Hotline: 1-855-948-2311

Don't know what number to call?

1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411) is never the wrong number

Want to receive other VA updates?

Veterans do NOT need to have a service-connected disability or be retired from the military to qualify for VA health care services.

Please join us and bring your questions!

Additional Support

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For All Veterans

For Veterans Already Enrolled in San Francisco VA Health Care