Understanding Depression in Female Veterans

What is Depression?

Major depressive disorder, commonly known as depression, is a serious mood disorder that affects how individuals feel, think, and manage daily tasks, including sleeping, eating, and working. Symptoms of depression go beyond occasional sadness or moodiness, presenting in a more severe and enduring way.

To be diagnosed, individuals must experience several of these symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
• Hopelessness or pessimism
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
• Low energy or fatigue
• Slower movements or speech
• Restlessness or difficulty sitting still
• Challenges with concentration, memory, or decision-making
• Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, early waking, or oversleeping
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts
• Physical symptoms, including headaches, cramps, or digestive issues without a clear cause

According to the VA, depression is a serious illness, but it is also highly treatable, and many veterans see improvement within a few weeks or months once they start care.

Depression Among Female Veterans

Research shows that depression is the second most common health issue among female veterans, with rates significantly higher than those found in male veterans. The VA’s own women’s health program confirms this pattern from the other direction as well, identifying depression as the single most common mental health diagnosis given to women who have served.

Causes of Depression in Female Veterans

The Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) has researched how military service affects female soldiers, particularly when serving in smaller teams within combat zones. This setup can bring unique stresses in addition to the standard challenges of combat.

Female service members may be placed in isolated locations with heavy combat exposure, away from their typical support networks. Even on base, they may struggle to relax or feel safe, partly due to the risks of military sexual trauma. About one in three women veterans tells their VA provider they experienced sexual harassment or assault during their service, compared with roughly one in fifty men. Military sexual trauma can happen on or off duty and on or off base. This can have effects on mental health that can persist for years afterward, which helps explain why women who served are more likely than men to be carrying this added weight into a depression diagnosis.

SWAN has recommended strengthening support networks for female service members and veterans to address these mental health challenges. One of the most effective support channels is the VA healthcare system. Studies have shown that female veterans who receive VA health services are less likely to die by suicide. A veteran does not need to be enrolled in VA health care to start benefiting from this system. All former service members and veterans qualify for one full year of free mental health care regardless of their discharge status, and care connected specifically to military sexual trauma remains available even to those who are not otherwise eligible for VA health care.

Accessing Care for Depression

Although female veterans experience depression at higher rates than male veterans, they are more likely to receive adequate care and report symptom improvement. Every VA medical center has designated Women’s Mental Health Champions, clinicians with focused training in the mental health needs of women who served, and more than half of the VA’s mental health providers are women themselves, giving veterans the option of care that feels more comfortable and tailored to them.

Adequate care is defined by meeting either of these criteria:

• At least four visits with a mental health specialist within six months of a depression diagnosis.
• Taking prescribed medication consistently, at least 26 days in the past month, or more than 25 days monthly across three consecutive months in a six-month period.

Beyond medication, the VA offers several talk therapy options tailored to depression, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression, which helps veterans identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression, which focuses on reconnecting with personal values, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy, which works through relationship issues that may be feeding into or resulting from depression. Veterans can also request a referral to a peer specialist, a fellow veteran who has recovered from a mental health condition and can help design a personal recovery plan. Care is available through VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, Vet Centers, and telehealth appointments, and veterans who served in a combat zone can also get free counseling at one of the VA’s roughly 300 community Vet Centers even without VA health care benefits.

Supporting Veterans

Since 1995, Veterans Help Group has been dedicated to assisting veterans in obtaining the benefits they deserve. If you or a loved one has served in the military and struggles with depression, support is available.

Call Veterans Help Group at 855-855-8992 or complete our free veterans benefits case evaluation form for assistance here. 

If you or someone you know is a veteran in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net.

Frequently Asked Questions: Depression Among Veterans

Is depression common among veterans?

Yes. Depression shows up across the veteran population, but it affects female veterans at notably higher rates than male veterans. The VA identifies depression as the most common mental health diagnosis given to women who have served.

Why do female veterans experience depression at higher rates?

Researchers point to a mix of factors, including the added stress of serving in small teams within combat zones, isolation from typical support networks during deployment, and the risk of military sexual trauma. VA screening data show that about one in three women veterans report experiencing military sexual trauma to their VA provider, compared with roughly one in fifty men, and that experience is strongly linked to depression and related conditions.

Do I need to be enrolled in VA health care to get help?

Not necessarily. All former service members and veterans qualify for one full year of free mental health care regardless of discharge status. Veterans who served in a combat zone can also receive free counseling at one of the VA’s roughly 300 community Vet Centers, even without VA health care benefits, and military sexual trauma-related care is available at Vet Centers regardless of combat service.

Veteran Resources:

• Free VA Disability Guidebooks
• VFW SSDI Qualifications Questionnaire
• Most Commonly Approved VA Disability Claims
• VA Disability Calculator: See What You Could Be Owed!