Stay Grounded: Users take control of their health

By Stephanie Thompson

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is upgrading the way they help Veterans by providing them with opportunities to be more proactive in their health care, outside of the doctor’s office.

The initiative is known as VA Mobile Health and includes numerous free applications, which are available on Android or iOS devices. The apps provide self-help, education and support after trauma. VA Mobile Health also includes companion apps, for use with a health care provider, to make treatment easier. Available apps include COVID Coach, PTSD Coach, and Insomnia Coach.

“You do not need to be a Veteran or active-duty Servicemember to use the apps; we want people to know that the VA has mobile mental health apps for everyone,” said Lisa Huang, mHealth (mobile health) specialist and supervisory librarian for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.

One PTSD Coach user had this to say about his experience with the app: “I have complex PTSD from severe childhood abuse. Last night, I woke up at 1 a.m. with another serious flashback. Usually I email my therapist so I can just get it out of me and get back to sleep. Instead, I was able to use a tool on the app for relaxation. The flashback subsided, and I was able to get right back to sleep.”

For those who might be hesitant to self-identify a sensitive health issue via an app, there is no cause for concern. The VA does not capture users’ personal health information (PHI)through these programs. You can get the help you need without having to wonder who might know.

These days, people are living with many stressors, particularly related to having to both work and play from home. Some parents are even learning how to homeschool their children while maintaining their day jobs. The COVID Coach app is designed to help users manage stress, check their mood, and learn what steps they can take to stay healthy.

“[The app] is diverse,” Huang said. “If there is abuse (child, elder, or domestic), it will link you to resources for those situations.”

COVID Coach shares deep breathing exercises, indoor activities for situations with and without children, as well as resources to help users address their particular circumstances.

One user of the COVID Coach App said, “More than COVID, it should be renamed, ‘VETERANS COACH’ or something else. It’s great for the help you need when you’re by yourself and need a break from things. It has helped me greatly.”

The apps have been developed by VA mental health professionals using the best available treatment-based evidence. To make the user experience more friendly, the apps are interconnected. Each app will link users to the other mental health apps, including Mindfulness Coach and the Anger and Irritability Management Skills (AIMS) app, designed for those coping with anger problems.

“Mobile mental health apps do not replace treatment,” emphasized Huang. “They are used to support treatment and provide coping skills for users.”

For more information, including a list of all available apps, visit Mobile.VA.gov.