Officium MentaleOfficium Mentale

How they fit together

Officium Mentaleand the VA pathway.

The VA provides care. We provide education. They are not the same thing and they are not in competition — here is what each one does, when to go straight to the VA, and how the course fits between appointments.

What the VA provides

Care: mental-health treatment through VA medical centers and clinics; Vet Centers offering counseling to eligible veterans, service members and their families; the Veterans Crisis Line — call or text 988, then press 1 — around the clock; and free self-help apps and resources such as PTSD Coach and Make the Connection.

If you are in crisis, if symptoms are getting in the way of daily life, or if you need a diagnosis, medication, or a treatment plan, the VA or another licensed provider is the right door. Go there first.

What we are — and are not

Officium Mentale is a veteran-owned Texas company offering non-clinical behavioral-health education. We are not part of the VA, not affiliated with it, and not a substitute for it. We do not diagnose, treat, or refer, and the course is not evidence for a claim.

What we teach is a skill: slowing down an automatic reaction and looking at it with three questions — Notice · Explore · Connect — until you have one clear question to bring to the people who can help.

How they fit together

Between appointments. VA visits can be weeks apart; the lessons give you something to work on in the gap, and the Connect question gives your provider something specific to hear.

For the family. A spouse, parent, or adult child is usually not the VA's patient, but they are the first person the veteran talks to. The course gives them the same language.

For peer-support and chaplain settings. Staff and volunteers who sit with veterans can use the same three questions without stepping into clinical territory.

Questions

Is Officium Mentale part of the VA?
No. We are an independent, veteran-owned Texas company. We are not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs and we do not provide VA services.
Will the course help my VA claim?
No. The course is education, not treatment or evaluation, and completion certificates are not medical evidence. Claims questions belong with the VA or an accredited representative.
Can I use this while I'm in VA care?
Yes. Many learners are in care already. Tell your provider you are working through it, and bring the Provider Conversation Sheet to your next appointment.
What if I'm in crisis?
Call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, available 24/7. The course is not the right tool for that moment.

In Crisis?

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or visit 988lifeline.org. For veteran-specific support, contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1.