Former VA secretaries urge Senate to designate day to help veterans, service members at risk of...

When I got out of the Navy ('71) and the Army ('78) there was NO screening, surveys or counselling of any kind. I do not recall my Navy ETS physical, but my Army ETS physical was abysmally ... incompetant? Sub-standard would be a good description. Never had a hearing test - on entry to the Army ('71), it was a "whisper" test according to the VA, and on discharge, it was a normal test so my hearing loss was not even rated except as being a loss and hearing aids supplied. I querried guys/gals who I served with at my last duty station, and they all said the same thing. Basically, the medic conducting the hearing tests would be in a hurry and end the tests well before they should have and gave everyone a normal test result. Yet most have a hearing loss from frequent range time (MP Corps) and Field training time with hand grenade and artillery simulators.
While all that may seem to suggest no relation to mental health, it is frustrating that ETS physicals were so shoddy. The ONLY "test" I recall was being checked for a hernia, lung sounds, heart rate etc. I can imagine that those likewise excited about discharge, "back then," and not concerned about a valid medical eval, can be frustrated today when seeking help for service connected issues. Thankfully, the VA DOES provide hearing aids, service conneccted hearing loss, or not. That's not a big deal, but other medical conditions overlooked in a discharge physical could be ... "traumatic" today.
Today however, both my sons in their discharge lead-up received a lot of info about everything from suicides to getting VA benefits. In my day, we had NONE of that.