Yes. The ombudsman recommended in 2021 that families receive mental health care in their own right independent of the veteran. The key there is “independent of the veteran”, because currently, for family members to receive mental health assistance, they basically need the veteran's permission and advocacy.
When the veteran is experiencing extreme PTSD or whatever issues they might be experiencing and the family notices, family members can't access care. That's why the ombudsman said that family members need to be able to access mental health care in their own right. It's so they won't need the veteran to advocate for them or basically give them permission; they can access it in their own right.
