The DOD and VA Joint Executive Committee should improve the way it communicates with transitioning service members who may be seeking mental health services, the Government Accountability Office said in a new report.

DOD automatically enrolls any departing service member who had sought mental health services in the year before separation to its inTransition mental health services program.

“GAO found that inTransition does not conduct outreach to these enrollees until two to three months after their separation. This delayed timing may leave a gap in assistance to mental health services during a vulnerable period,” the authors wrote, adding that DOD has not assessed how successful inTransition is in providing support.

The report laid out five recommendations to improve outreach and understand inTransition’s impact.

Air Force photo by Heather Heiney