GAO Report: VA Needs to Strengthen Mental Health Support Assessment for Veteran Caregivers

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), operates the Caregiver Support Program to assist caregivers who provide round-the-clock care to veterans with serious injuries. According to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, while the program offers mental health support through services like support groups and respite care, there are significant gaps in how the VHA assesses and ensures the effectiveness of these offerings GAO Report. In fiscal year 2025, the program served approximately 98,000 caregivers and saw obligations of $2.6 billion for implementation, reflecting significant growth since 2021 due to expanded eligibility criteria introduced in October 2020.

The GAO found that the VHA employs various methods to promote awareness of the program, including email updates and brochures at VA medical centers. However, feedback from interviewed caregivers revealed a common concern: many learned about the program later than desired and believed other caregivers remained unaware of available mental health support. To address outreach effectiveness, the VHA established four goals, one of which targets a 15 percent annual increase in program enrollment. Yet, the other three goals, such as increasing email update subscribers, lack specific quantitative targets and time frames. The GAO emphasizes that setting such targets would enable the VHA to better measure progress in raising awareness among unenrolled caregivers and adjust outreach strategies accordingly.

Beyond outreach, the VHA’s assessment of mental health support within the program also needs improvement. The agency set a goal to increase telehealth appointments by 10 percent in fiscal year 2025, and data show a 50 percent rise in these appointments from 2024 to 2025. However, the GAO noted that the VHA has not established similar goals or collected comprehensive data for other mental health services provided through the program. This gap limits the agency’s ability to fully evaluate how well the program supports caregivers’ well-being. The report suggests that setting broader goals and gathering more complete data would position the VA to make necessary adjustments, ultimately enhancing support for caregivers and, by extension, the veterans they care for.

The importance of addressing caregivers’ mental health cannot be overstated. Research cited in the GAO report indicates that the demands of caregiving can lead to high stress, burden, and conditions like depression or anxiety. Caregivers play a critical role in veterans’ lives, and their well-being directly impacts the quality of care provided. The GAO’s review, prompted by the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvements Act, underscores the need for the VHA to prioritize robust assessment mechanisms to ensure the program meets its objectives.

The report’s findings are based on VHA documentation and data from fiscal years 2021 through 2025, alongside interviews with VHA officials, program staff, selected caregivers at four VA medical centers, and representatives from four national organizations serving veterans and caregivers. The medical centers were chosen based on program size, geography, and rurality, ensuring a diverse perspective on the program’s reach and challenges.

Why this is uncovered

This critical issue of mental health support for veteran caregivers has largely been absent from mainstream media coverage, likely due to its niche focus within the broader landscape of veterans’ affairs, which often prioritizes direct veteran care over caregiver support. The GAO report’s technical nature and emphasis on program assessment may not align with the sensational or immediate-impact stories typically amplified by major outlets. Despite this, the public interest is clear, as caregivers’ well-being directly affects veterans’ quality of life, a concern for millions of Americans connected to the veteran community.