War is hell. And it doesn’t end on the battlefield.

General Patton once asked a wounded soldier to describe his injuries. The soldier said, “It’s my nerves.” Patton slapped the man across the face and called him a coward.

The military’s response to what was once called “shellshock,” “battle fatigue,” and now PTSD, has changed dramatically, largely due to the astonishingly high numbers of veteran suicides during the Iraq war: between 2005 and 2007, suicide rates among veterans soared to 20% of the national total.

This number drops significantly among veterans receiving treatment at the VA. “[P]eople who have PTSD have suffered a wound, just like they’ve been shot, and need to be treated,” said Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a Pentagon Channel interview.

Online therapy, through sites like Breakthrough.com, has emerged as an alternative to reduce the effects of stigma. Veterans can access therapists confidentially, from any location, and with the option of maintaining their anonymity.

“Online counseling lets people get help where they are, physically and psychologically,” says Mark Goldenson, CEO of Breakthrough.com. “They don’t have to sit in a waiting room, explain why they are leaving home or work, or pay for gas or childcare. It lets people focus on getting better.”

Online counseling also helps people find the best provider for them, which research shows is an essential factor in getting better. Users can briefly talk online with potential counselors before committing to an entire session.

Online therapy also reduces costs for both clients and providers. It can eliminate travel costs, reduce administrative and overhead fees, and is increasingly covered by insurance (including Medicare and AMA).

While teletherapy is still a new practice, studies have shown that it can be as effective as in-person treatment. For example, a Lancet study found that online counseling more than doubled the likelihood of recovery for certain conditions.

With the military now encouraging soldiers and veterans to get help, perhaps fewer of our nation’s heroes will suffer in silence.