MIRECC / CoE

NewsFlash | Brochures

NewsFlash | Brochures

Unseen Injuries - Medical Information for Combat Veterans - Published in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), this brochure for combat veterans was developed under the direction of Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA). UPDATE: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has extended the presumptive period to Dec. 31, 2026 for qualifying chronic disabilities rated 10% or more resulting from undiagnosed illnesses in Gulf War Veterans. Gulf War operational names included Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Sabre, and Operation Southern Watch. In addition, various phases of each operation may have a unique operational name. For VA benefit purposes, Gulf War service is active military duty in any of the following areas in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations at any time August 2, 1990 to present.

• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Saudi Arabia
• The neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
• Bahrain
• Qatar
• The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.)
• Oman
• Gulf of Aden
• Gulf of Oman
• Waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea
• The airspace above these locations 

If you or your loved one either served in the Gulf War, or recently returned from the Global War on Terror, this information may be important to you. Gulf War Veterans may still seek to establish service connection individually for other, "non-presumptive" diseases and illnesses related to service in the Gulf War. Need help? Appoint a Veteran Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent to assist you. In most cases, it is not necessary for Veterans to get assistance from an attorney. However, many Veterans choose to get free assistance from organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). These organizations will typically ask you to sign a limited power of attorney, which will allow them to speak with the VA on your behalf. They can help you determine status, ask the VA to reconsider the severity of your rated ailments, and help you with other support actions.

NW MIRECC Downloadable brochures/flyers - Whether you are currently on active-duty, a Veteran, or someone who has never worn the uniform, you can participate in NW MIRECC research in Seattle, Washington. Research studies are currently enrolling Military Veterans, First Responders, Health Care workers, and Civilians.

National VA Chaplain Service - VA Chaplain Service is a vital part of the VA Medical Center, dedicated to providing the highest quality pastoral care to the veteran. Chaplains are on call 24/7. The mission of Chaplain Service is to provide spiritual/religious care to all Veterans and their family members.

Mission Ready: Preparing to Fight the Good Fight - Written by Navy Chaplain John Owen, this guide helps us understand that some things are worth fighting for even at the risk of our own comfort.

Honor - This popular booklet is filled with uplifting messages by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale that will encourage readers to bring out the best in themselves and others. A strong faith in God will help them lead fulfilling lives built on honor and integrity.

VA Mental Health Services for Veterans and Families - If you are a Veteran, Veteran family member, member of a Veterans Service Organization, or member of another group interested in VA mental health care, you can use this handbook to learn what mental health services your local or regional VA health care facility has pledged to provide to Veterans. Trips to medical treatment facilities frequently bring to mind thoughts of serious physical ailments and injuries. There are some injuries, however, that cannot be seen, and others that simple scans and blood tests cannot definitively detect. The unseen set of injuries frequently overlooked in and out of the military relate to mental health. This brochure is a shorter, simplified version of the VA mental health handbook. 

Enhancing Veteran care through research and education - Learning and Research Opportunities Tri-fold brochure for NW MIRECC and how to get involved.

Understanding PTSD and PTSD Treatment - PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event. Find out about PTSD and PTSD treatment from Veterans who’ve been there.

Real Warriors Outreach Center - The Real Warriors Campaign promotes a culture of support for psychological health by encouraging the military community to reach out for help whether coping with the daily stresses of military life, or concerns like depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Defense Department’s Psychological Health Center of Excellence has a mission to break the stigma associated with psychological health concerns and encourage those who are coping with a psychological health concern to seek help. The campaign links service members, veterans and their families with care and provides free, confidential resources including online articles, print materials, videos and podcasts. If you or someone you know is coping with any concerns, know that reaching out is a sign of strength.

What to do When... How to Handle Life's Difficulties - Loneliness is one of the most painful human emotions. In this all-new guide, you’ll find 9 common causes of loneliness and what to do to overcome each one. Most important you’ll see how to rely on the One who ensures we are never alone.

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Guide for Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans - TBI subject matter experts from TBICoE, National Intrepid Spirit Center of Excellence, Psychological Health Center of Excellence, and the Department of Veterans Affairs worked together to revise and update the guide. Findings from the ongoing Longitudinal Study on Traumatic Brain Injury Incurred by Members of the Armed Forces in OEF/OIF were incorporated into this revision as well. Caregivers of service members and veterans with TBI can download the interactive PDF to use on their smart phones, tablets, and personal computers.

InTransition Psychological Health Support - A free, confidential program called inTransition offers specialized telephone coaching and assistance for active duty service members, National Guard, reservists, veterans, and retirees who need access to a new mental health provider or wish to initiate mental health care for the first time when: Relocating to another assignment, Returning from deployment, Transitioning between an active duty and a reserve status, and Preparing to leave military service. The inTransition services are available to all military members regardless of length of service or discharge status, by calling 800-424-7877.

Star Behavioral Health Providers - As a member of the military, veteran or family member, you face many of the same daily challenges that your civilian neighbors face. But you also have added stressors: frequent, sometimes sudden moves; deployments around the United States and overseas; and combat- or mission-related fatigue that can sometimes last long after the mission is over.

Psychological Health Resource Center - A trusted source of psychological health information and resources related to combat stress, depression, reintegration, how to get into treatment, types of treatment for mental health conditions, and many other topics. Available 24/7 by phone, online chat, or email to service members, veterans, family members, clinicians, commanders, or anyone with a question about psychological health in the military.

Use of these Materials and Finding VA Health Care

Please note that the health care information provided in these materials is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a medical practitioner for advice on care and treatment. If you are looking for professional medical care, find your local VA healthcare center by using the VA Facilities Locator & Directory. This page may contain links that will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.

VA Web Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Disclaimer of Hyperlinks: The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized VA activities, the Department does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the Department and the VA website. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.
Disclaimer of Liability: With respect to documents available from this server, neither the United States Government nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Reference from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by the VA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the VA or any of its employees. We are not responsible for the content of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server.
Disclaimer: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products or services on the part of the VA.

Browse facilities by state

VA VISN 20 consists of four states across three time zones; Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The primary research center located at VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) is affiliated with University of Washington (UW). VAPSHCS serves Veterans from a five-state area in the Pacific Northwest with two main divisions: American Lake and Seattle. Veterans in Washington are also served by VA Medical Centers in Spokane, Vancouver, and Walla Walla. In Washington, there are VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's) located in Bellevue, Bremerton, Chehalis, Edmunds, Everett, Federal Way, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Port Angeles, Puyallup, Richland, Renton, Silverdale, Seattle, Wenatchee, and Yakima. The research center located at VA Portland Heath Care System (VAPORHCS) is affiliated with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). VAPORHCS serves Veterans from Oregon and Southwest Washington with two main divisions: Portland and Vancouver. Veterans in Oregon are also served by VA Medical Centers in Roseburg and White City. In Oregon, there are CBOC's located in Bend, Boardman, Brookings, Enterprise, Eugene, Fairview, Grants Pass, Hines, Hillsboro, Klamath Falls, LaGrande, Lincoln City, Newport, Portland, Salem, The Dalles, Warrenton, and West Linn. VA provides health care for Veterans from providers in your local community outside of VA. Veterans may be eligible to receive care from a community provider when VA cannot provide the care needed.

Vet Centers in the VISN 20 Health Care Network are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active-duty Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families. 1-877-WAR-VETS is an around the clock confidential call center where Veterans, service members and their families can talk about their military experience or any other issue they are facing in transitioning after military service or trauma and get connected to their nearest Vet Center.

Explore VA.gov

VA has a variety of mental health resources, information, treatment options, and more — all accessible to Veterans, Veterans’ supporters, and the general public. Explore the pages below to learn more about a specific mental health topic. Each of these pages includes resources, information on treatment options, and more.

Stories of Support