Mental health problems have been found to be the top reason why active-duty US military personnel were hospitalized in 2023. A new Defense Health Agency (DHA) report reveals that nearly one-third of the roughly 62,800 cases of troop hospitalization last year were for mental health treatment.

In this retrospective cohort study of 471 791 rural US veterans with a history of mental health care use, receipt of a video-enabled tablet was associated with increased use of mental health care via video, increased psychotherapy visits (across all modalities), and reduced suicide behavior and ED visits. These findings suggest that video-enabled tablets may provide access to critical services for rural patients with mental health needs and reduce instances of suicide behavior and ED visits among them.

Approximately 40% of Veterans live in rural areas, and while the prevalence of trauma-related mental health difficulties, including PTSD, are equivalent to other Veteran groups, their rates of service use are among the lowest. In response, VA has made several remote care options available as alternatives to in-person mental healthcare through its Office of Connected Care. Remote care helps solve logistical barriers, such as distance, transportation, and travel costs, as well as barriers such as taking time off work or school, arranging child or elder care, and physical limitations, all of which limit Veterans’ ability to engage in in-person mental healthcare. Remote care also helps resolve clinical barriers, such as stigma around seeking mental healthcare.