At Longleaf Hospital, we greatly respect the men and women who serve in our nation’s military, and we are grateful for the sacrifices they have made. We are proud to offer specialized support through our FLAGS program for members of the military community whose lives have been impacted by mental health and substance use concerns as a result of their service.
In the FLAGS military program at our VA hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, military members and their families can receive therapeutic services that are designed to help them learn how to manage symptoms of mental health disorders and have an increased quality of life. We offer therapies that can assist military personnel in developing healthy coping mechanisms and strategies for long-term wellness. Patients also have the opportunity to work closely with experienced professionals who are committed to their success.
Program Overview
FLAGS Military Support Program
Longleaf Hospital’s Forgiving Losses and Gaining Strength (FLAGS) program was specifically created for active-duty military, active reserve, retired military personnel, and active-duty dependents. This program supports individuals in need of professional mental health and/or chemical dependency treatment services. The average length of stay in the FLAGS program is 30 days.
The FLAGS program is a comprehensive, stand-alone treatment program that reflects the impact that combat and deployment can have on individuals and families. This program offers a unique healing environment that affords military personnel and their families opportunities to learn new ways of managing the stress associated with military life.
View a tour of our facility and FLAGS unit here.
FLAGS Military Treatment Facility
Longleaf Hospital’s Forgiving Losses and Gaining Strength (FLAGS) program was specifically created for active-duty and reserve U.S. military members, retired military personnel, and active-duty dependents. This stand-alone inpatient treatment program supports adults age 18 and older who need professional mental health and addiction treatment. The average length of stay in the FLAGS program is 30 days, but treatment is customized to each person’s unique needs. Patients can engage in a variety of therapeutic services that are designed with their military experience in mind.
We recognize the profound impact combat and deployment can have on individuals and their families. The FLAGS program offers a unique healing environment to help guide military personnel and their families toward more peaceful and fulfilling lives. Our military treatment facility is a clean, secure, and spacious place where patients can heal alongside others who understand what they’re going through.
Military Mental Health Statistics
Research shows that active-duty and retired members of the U.S. military suffer from mental health and substance use concerns at an alarming rate. This could be due to the stress of deployment, separation from loved ones, and exposure to the violence of combat. Individuals who have served in the military need inpatient mental health treatment that is sensitive to their experiences and can help them reacclimate to life after the military.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
- Up to 72% of military veterans experience significant stress during their transition from military life to civilian life.
- Approximately half of newly retired military veterans do not engage with post-military benefits and military inpatient mental health resources available to them.
- In 2020, 5.2 million veterans reported having a behavioral health condition.
- More than half of veterans who have a reported mental illness did not receive appropriate treatment within the past year.
- More than 90% of veterans who have a substance use disorder do not receive treatment.
Data reported in the National Library of Medicine regarding military veterans and mental health concerns found that:
- 14%-16% of U.S. military members who were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan currently suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression.
- 9% of all medical appointments made by veterans are related to symptoms of depression.
- More than 6,000 U.S. veterans die by suicide every year, an increase of 30% since 1999.
These military mental health statistics highlight the need for comprehensive treatment and compassionate support. No one should suffer alone, and Longleaf Hospital is committed to helping the brave men and women who selflessly serve our country find healing.
Military Rehab & Inpatient Mental Health Center
At Longleaf Hospital, we understand how difficult it can be to transition to civilian life after a period of deployment or time spent in direct combat. For some people, this transition is overwhelming and leads to thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Our military treatment facility is equipped to care for the needs of adults who are struggling with the following mental health concerns:
- Combat-related stress
- Military sexual trauma (MST)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Adjustment disorder
- Suicidal ideation
- Self-harming behaviors
When you participate in the FLAGS program at Longleaf, you will work with a multidisciplinary staff that understands the unique challenges you have faced. These staff members will guide you through therapies that are designed to help you find healthy ways to cope with traumatic memories and the challenges of military service. Professionals you may work with include:
- Social workers
- Licensed counselors
- Psychiatrists
- Certified addiction medicine doctors
- Physicians
- Registered nurses (RNs)
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
- Nurse practitioners
- Pharmacists
Many people who have served in the military have seen or experienced traumatic events that most people will never understand. To cope with these events, some people turn to alcohol or illicit substances to numb the pain they feel. At Longleaf’s military treatment facility, we offer a detoxification service that is provided by our qualified medical staff.
During this phase of military rehab, patients receive personalized care and medications to reduce their discomfort as they withdraw from substances. Using our detox service to cleanse your body of harmful substances can help make it easier to participate fully in our FLAGS program.
Military Rehab & Inpatient Mental Health Center
At Longleaf Hospital, we understand how difficult it can be to transition to civilian life after a period of deployment or time spent in direct combat. For some people, this transition is overwhelming and leads to thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Our military treatment facility is equipped to care for the needs of adults who are struggling with the following mental health concerns:
- Combat-related stress
- Military sexual trauma (MST)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Adjustment disorder
- Suicidal ideation
- Self-harming behaviors
When you participate in the FLAGS program at Longleaf, you will work with a multidisciplinary staff that understands the unique challenges you have faced. These staff members will guide you through therapies that are designed to help you find healthy ways to cope with traumatic memories and the challenges of military service. Professionals you may work with include:
- Social workers
- Licensed counselors
- Psychiatrists
- Certified addiction medicine doctors
- Physicians
- Registered nurses (RNs)
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
- Nurse practitioners
- Pharmacists
Many people who have served in the military have seen or experienced traumatic events that most people will never understand. To cope with these events, some people turn to alcohol or illicit substances to numb the pain they feel. At Longleaf’s military treatment facility, we offer a detoxification service that is provided by our qualified medical staff.
During this phase of military rehab, patients receive personalized care and medications to reduce their discomfort as they withdraw from substances. Using our detox service to cleanse your body of harmful substances can help make it easier to participate fully in our FLAGS program.
Services & Therapies Offered in the FLAGS Military Support Program
The FLAGS military inpatient treatment program consists of personalized treatment services that address the mental health and substance use concerns that affect members of our armed forces. Our military PTSD treatment program is conducted under the direction and supervision of a licensed psychiatrist 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The types of military treatment modalities used in the FLAGS program vary based on the needs of each individual but may include:
- 12-Step programming
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Accelerated resolution therapy (ART)
- Trauma-informed yoga
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy and education
- Group therapy
- Recreation therapy
- Medication management and education
- Integration and coordination with primary care providers
- Guided imagery therapy
A key component of the FLAGS program is group therapy, which allows patients to give and receive support in a safe environment under the guidance of a trained therapist. Groups may cover topics such as grief, coping skills, symptom management, family dynamics, anger management, stress reduction, PTSD treatment, and relaxation techniques. Examples of commonly offered groups in the FLAGS military treatment program include:
- Goals group
- Social skills group
- Recreation therapy group
- Mental health activity group
- Wrap-up group
Throughout their time in treatment, veterans have the opportunity to go on group outings with their peers off campus. These supervised outings can support reintegration into the community and provide leisure activities outside of the military inpatient mental health setting. During their time in the FLAGS program, veterans can also attend off-site Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and church services in the surrounding Alexandria, Louisiana, area.
Go to the Nearest Military Treatment Facility
When you arrive at our military rehab and PTSD treatment center, our intake coordinators will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your physical and psychological needs. This assessment is intended for us to gain a better understanding of your reasons for seeking military treatment and how we may be able to help. Based on the information we gather regarding your military service history, your medical needs, and any co-occurring disorders, we will create a personalized treatment plan that will guide your treatment.
Longleaf Hospital’s caring and skilled staff is dedicated to helping you or your loved one embark on the lifelong journey of healing. Treatment at our facility is not a passive experience, and patients are encouraged to actively participate in the treatment process to the fullest extent possible.
Committing to a dedicated military inpatient mental health treatment program is a crucial step toward improving your overall health and well-being. We admire the courage it takes to seek mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and we believe that you can live a fulfilling life with the support of our multidisciplinary team. The staff at our Alexandria, Louisiana, military treatment center will treat you with respect and empathy no matter what challenges you’ve faced.
If you or a loved one would like more information about a military mental health treatment facility near you, we encourage you to call us today. Our team is available to talk to you anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We want to help you make the best decision for military mental health treatment for yourself or your loved one.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Longleaf Hospital.
