VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend launches primary care campaign on stress conversations

VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System launched a primary care campaign in July 2026 to make brief conversations about stress a routine part of Veteran care, the Department of Veterans Affairs said.

According to the VA, the "Let's Talk Stress" campaign gives primary care teams a framework for discussing stress during routine visits, including suggested questions such as "How has stress been affecting your daily life?" Campaign materials say stress affects sleep, mood and chronic disease management. The VA said teams also receive guidance on when to consider a warm handoff to additional services, including when stress interferes with daily functioning or when there are safety or crisis concerns.

Veterans are encouraged to talk with their primary care provider, learn strategies to manage stress and build resilience, the department said. Veterans receive a wristband with the slogan "Stress Is Tough, So Are You."

The VA said the campaign connects Veterans to Whole Health and Healthy Living services, which include tai chi, yoga, meditation, health coaching, acupuncture and lifestyle medicine support, as well as Social Work and Veterans Crisis Line resources.

In one example cited by the department, nursing staff connected a Veteran struggling to pay utility bills with a social worker, who helped set up autopay to reduce the risk of service disconnection.

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/309