Many veterans who need mental health treatment are reluctant to seek care, and their family members often do not know how to encourage them to do so. In 2011, a telephone-based service called Coaching Into Care (CIC) was developed to address this concern. Callers are provided with educational resources and referrals; in more complicated cases, callers are provided with up to 6 months of telephone-based coaching. This coaching of family members has been associated with an increase in veterans accessing mental health care. This program may serve as a model for community efforts to engage individuals in needed mental health care.
Keywords: Mental health services; Veterans; family support; treatment barriers; treatment engagement; treatment-seeking.