TOP 10 THINGS ALL HEALTHCARE AND SERVICE PROFESSIONALS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VA SERVICES FOR VETERANS WHO EXPERIENCED MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA (MST)

Military sexual trauma (MST) is the A significant number of term used by the Department of men and women report 1 Veterans Affairs (VA) to refer to 2 having experienced MST. or that About one in three women and occurred during a Veteran’s military service. one in 50 men have told their VA healthcare provider that they MST can occur on or off base and while a Veteran is on experienced sexual trauma in the or off duty. Perpetrators can be anyone — men or military. Although women are more women, military personnel or civilians, commanding likely to experience MST than men, officers or subordinates, strangers, friends, or because of the larger number of intimate partners. Veterans from all eras of service – men in the military there are from World War II to those who served more recently actually significant numbers of in Iraq and Afghanistan – have reported experiencing both men and women seen in VA MST. that have experienced MST.

MST affects both mental VA has responded to the issue 3 and physical health. 4 of MST in a variety of ways. Sexual assault is more likely to result in Since 1992, VA has been developing programs symptoms of PTSD than are most other and policies to ensure MST survivors have types of trauma, including combat. access to resources to help them in their Symptoms of and substance recovery. For example, all Veterans seen for VA are also common. Even survivors health care are asked if they experienced MST; without formal diagnoses may still struggle this is an important way to ensure providers with emotional reactions, memories related are aware of their experience and can connect to their experiences of MST, or interpersonal them with additional care as needed. All issues. Sexual trauma can also have a strong treatment for physical and impact on physical health and is associated conditions related to MST is free. VA engages in with higher rates of headaches, outreach to Veterans about services available gastrointestinal difficulties, sexual and ensures that staff receive training on MST- dysfunction, chronic pain, and chronic related issues. As with disabilities due to other fatigue. Recovery is possible, however, and experiences during military service, Veterans VA has services to help Veterans with this. can receive compensation for disabilities or injuries resulting from MST.

May 2021 VA provides all treatment Veterans may be eligible for for mental and physical free MST-related care even if 5 health conditions related to 6 they are not eligible for other MST free of charge. VA services. Veterans do not need to have a disability There are special eligibility rules for rating (that is, be “service-connected”), to MST-related care, and some standard have reported the incident(s) at the time, requirements for receiving VA care do not or to have other evidence that MST apply. Although this handout refers to occurred in order to receive free MST- "Veterans", other individuals also may be related care. There are no time limits on able to receive certain MST-related services. eligibility for this care, meaning that Veterans can seek out treatment even many years after discharge. VA knows that MST survivors may have special treatment VA has a full continuum 8 needs and concerns. of MST-related 7 services available. For example, a Veteran can ask to meet with a clinician of a particular gender if it would make him or her feel more comfortable. MST-related outpatient care is available at Similarly, to accommodate Veterans who do all VA medical centers and many not feel comfortable in mixed-gender community-based outpatient clinics. treatment settings, many facilities Outpatient MST-related counseling is also throughout VA have separate programs for available at VA’s Vet Centers. For men and women. Veterans who need more intensive treatment and support, there are programs nationwide that offer specialized sexual trauma treatment in There are several ways residential and inpatient settings. 10 Veterans can get help. For more information, Veterans can speak with their existing VA healthcare Every VA medical center has provider, contact the MST Coordinator at an MST Coordinator who their nearest VA medical center, or 9 serves as a point person for contact their local Vet Center. A list of VA MST-related issues. and Vet Center facilities can be found online at https://www.va.gov and He or she can tell you about treatment and https://www.vetcenter.va.gov. More other resources available in your area. For information about MST and more information, contact your local VA VA services is available at healthcare facility and ask to speak with the https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ MST Coordinator. msthome.asp.