Deployment Psychology Blog

Staff Perspective: What Providers Need to Know About the VA's Free Emergency Suicide Care for Veterans

By Lisa French  on 17.12.2025 11:20 am
Dr. Lisa French

I was recently talking to a civilian community mental health provider, and she asked me if I thought veterans were utilizing mental health care more due to both the VA MISSION Act and the VA COMPACT Act. I thought about it briefly and responded (acknowledging that I had no evidence to support my answer) that it usually takes years for change following laws like these. Then I paused to really think about how much I have heard about either of these veteran-focused acts/laws in my role as a psychologist or as a veteran, and the answer was: not much. So I thought this would be a great topic to share with our community of providers.

Staff Perspective: AI for Research - A Conversation Between a Skeptic and Google Gemini

By Maegan Willing  on 10.12.2025 10:10 am
Maegan M. Paxton Willing, Ph.D., MPH

I saw technology grow by leaps and bounds while growing up. Aside from my dislike of social media, I've never felt that I had an aversion to technology - that is until AI came around. Maybe it's from watching one too many dystopian sci-fi movies, but AI just makes me uncomfortable. So I tried to delay using AI as long as possible, but the more USU talked about its benefits, and with some very strong encouragement from my supervisor, I begrudgingly began trying to use Google Gemini 

Staff Perspective: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Walter E. Penk, Jr.

By William Brim  on 03.12.2025 11:03 am

The field of psychology—and more importantly, generations of veterans and service members—lost a remarkable advocate, mentor, and innovator with the passing of Dr. Walter Erich Penk, Jr. His career spanned more than six decades, and his contributions to military and veteran psychology fundamentally reshaped how we understand, treat, and support those living with trauma and mental illness.

Pages