This Veterans Day, Serenity Mental Health Centers is recognizing the 29 veterans on its own team, among them psychiatrists, nurses and medics, who now care for fellow veterans and service members, including those whose depression has not improved with medication or therapy alone. The behavioral health provider’s clinics serve military communities including San Antonio, Colorado Springs, Northern Virginia, Jacksonville and the Phoenix metro area.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 6,488 veterans died by suicide in 2024, and 62% of them had not received VA health care in that year or the year before. Veterans ages 18 to 34 had the highest suicide rate of any age group. According to the VA’s National Center for PTSD, nearly 3 in 10 veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

The veterans on Serenity’s team include psychiatrists trained at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a retired Navy commander, and nurses and medics who served in Afghanistan, Kuwait, South Korea and Okinawa.

“Many of the veterans I see have done everything that was asked of them. They’ve tried medications, they’ve been in therapy, and they’re still struggling,” said Dr. Jamon Holzhouser, Regional Medical Director and a psychiatrist at Serenity’s Lehi, Utah, clinic and a retired U.S. Navy commander who served as a submarine warfare officer and Fleet Marine Force officer. “Hearing that there are still options, from someone who has worn the uniform, can make it easier to take the next step.”

Dr. Philip Yam, Regional Medical Director and a psychiatrist at Serenity’s Nocatee, Florida, clinic, served as a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander and an embedded mental health psychiatrist with the surface warfare community. “In the Navy, my job was to be right there with the sailors I cared for,” said Dr. Yam. “Practicing in Northeast Florida lets me keep doing that for service members, veterans and their families in a community I know well.”

Serenity’s psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners provide outpatient care that includes psychiatric evaluations, medication management, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy and ketamine infusion therapy. TMS therapy is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood. Sessions take place in the clinic, require no anesthesia, and patients can drive themselves home afterward.

“Treatment-resistant depression is a serious mental disorder, but it is not the end of the road,” said Dr. TeeJay Tripp, DO, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Serenity Mental Health Centers. “For a veteran who feels they’ve run out of options, knowing there are other treatments to explore can change everything.”

Across Serenity’s network, patients receiving TMS therapy have reported an 84% response rate and a 78% remission rate, with results sustained at three years or longer for the majority of those who complete treatment.

Serenity’s commitment to veterans extends to its workforce. The company recently welcomed Arrielle Maloata, a U.S. Army veteran, as head of human resources.

“Veterans bring discipline, calm under pressure and a deep sense of service, and those qualities matter in a behavioral health setting,” said Maloata. “We’re proud of the veterans already on our team, and we welcome veterans who want to build a career caring for patients.”

Veterans, service members and military families can learn more or request an appointment at serenitymentalhealthcenters.com or call 844-310-1649. Anyone in crisis can call or text 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, or text 838255.

About Serenity Mental Health Centers

Serenity Mental Health Centers is a leading provider of comprehensive mental health services, dedicated to transforming the lives of patients through compassionate, innovative, and evidence-based care. With 39 locations across the country, Serenity offers a wide range of outpatient treatments tailored to address various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Our highly skilled team of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and mental health specialists combines innovative therapies like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and ketamine infusion therapy with personalized care to help patients achieve lasting wellness. Serenity is committed to expanding access to quality mental health care and fostering hope and recovery for individuals and families in the communities we serve. For more information, visit serenitymentalhealthcenters.com.

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