Veterans experience a variety of mental health concerns. Factors can include exposure to dangerous combat situations, deployments, injuries, victim of sexual assault, relationship stress, reintegration to civilian life, and financial stress. Veterans can be predisposed to develop mental health conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI),  Substance Abuse, Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation.

Veterans’ Mental Health: Overview & Statistics

According to the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development, in 2018 it was recorded that 1.7 million veterans received treatment through VA Mental Health speciality programs.¹

Here are some additional statistics regarding veterans’ mental health:

• About 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year²
• About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War (Desert Storm) Veterans have PTSD in a given year²
• It is estimated that about 30 out of every 100 of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime²
• An estimated 6,139 veterans completed suicide in 2017⁶
• 185,000 veterans who used the VA between 2000-2019 have been diagnosed with at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI); a majority are mild⁴
• One in four women and one in 100 men screen through the VA self-reported experiencing Military Sexual Trauma⁹
• A 2018 study reported more than 1.1 million veterans struggled with substance use¹¹

Dr. Carlos Garcia, HOOAH volunteer, Clinical Psychologist at Tampa Counseling and Wellness, the Mastery Group, and veteran, states, “many veterans struggle with PTSD, yet many of the veterans I see are dealing with major depression or anxiety due to other life challenges. These issues may range from relationship and marriage problems to difficulty transitioning to civilian life, as well as problems surrounding money and work.”

 

Veterans & PTSD

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent among veterans, especially combat veterans. Factors that increase risk of PTSD can include what a service member does during war, politics around the war, location of the war, and the type of enemy a service member faces.²

Symptoms of PTSD can include:

• Experiencing nightmares
• Reliving the event
• Avoidance of situations that remind you of the event
• Being easily startled or aroused
• Decreased interest in activities
• Withdrawing or isolating behaviors
• Increased anger or irritability
• Increased substance use or dependence
• Relationship strains
• Work issues
• Sadness
• Guilt
• Shame

Symptoms of PTSD can begin soon after a traumatic experience, develop later in life, or resurface again after a period of time. PTSD can increase with age for older veterans who experience medical problems, difficulty adjusting to retirement, or from watching, reading, or hearing about current wars.³

To read about the following topics, please view the full article at https://www.choosingtherapy.com/veterans-mental-health/:

Veterans & Late Onset Stress Symptomatology
Veterans & Traumatic Brain Injuries
Veterans & Suicide
Veterans & Military Sexual Trauma
Substance Abuse & Co-Occurring Mental Health Diagnoses
Barriers to Treatment as a Veteran
How Therapy Can Help Veterans Improve Veterans’ Mental Health
Mental Health Resources Available to Veterans & Their Families
How to Support a Veteran Experiencing Mental Health Concerns
Final Thoughts on Veterans’ Mental Health