Sidebar Sidebar

Mental Illness and Veterans

Mental Illness and Veterans
  • The number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from the Department of Veterans Affairs jumped by nearly 20,000 — almost 70% — in the 12 months ending June 30, 2007, VA records show. [1]
  • More than 100,000 combat veterans sought help for mental illness since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001, about one in seven of those who have left active duty since then, according to VA records collected through June. Almost half of those were PTSD cases.[1]
  • The total of mental health cases among war veterans grew by 58% from 63,767 on June 30, 2006, to 100,580 on June 30, 2007, VA records show. The mental health issues include PTSD, drug and alcohol dependency, and depression. They involve troops who left the military and sought health care from the veterans department.[1]
  • A study released on 3/12/07 stated that of 103,788 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans seen at VA health care facilities, 25,658 (25%) received mental health diagnoses; 56% of whom had 2 or more distinct mental health diagnoses.[2]
  • Overall, 32,010 (31%) of veterans in the 3/12/07 study received mental health and/or psychosocial diagnoses. The youngest group of OEF/OIF veterans (age, 18-24 years) were at greatest risk for receiving mental health or posttraumatic stress disorder diagnoses compared with veterans 40 years or older.[2]

  • In 2003, an estimated 56.6 percent of veterans used alcohol in the past month compared with 50.8 percent of comparable nonveterans. An estimated 13.2 percent of veterans reported driving while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs in the past year compared with 12.2 percent of comparable nonveterans. Daily cigarette use was more common among veterans, with an estimated 18.8 percent smoking cigarettes daily in the past month compared with 14.3 percent of comparable nonveterans.[3]
  • In 2002/2003, an estimated 1.2 million male veterans were identified as suffering from serious mental illnesses. Approximately 340,000 of these individuals had co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Approximately 209,000 female veterans (13.1 percent) reported serious mental illness, and 25,000 (1.6 percent) reported co-occurring substance use disorder and SMI.[4]

Comments

B
Thank you for your clear statistical report on what goes on in the military to our men. We are all affected by this. On behalf of other woman who have had someone who they love go through deployment alone I must admit it's totally heartbreaking. A lot of soldiers, withdraw and we there partners, are left tormented by the problems. I was told, previously they actually had no transition time, to re-adjust back into civilian life. They are trying to improve however, the numbers do not show that it's working any better. There is also a very high incidence of suicide moonset our unmarried soldiers. With no real strong family ties. I was hit very hard by this because, I met a soldier who had little family to speak of. We met on the Internet and began an affair of some sorts. It began as friends and soon after it went to the next step. I pushed him away because, there was a huge age difference between us however, we don't always choose who we fall in love with it became more then him or I had planned on. He began with a tremendous amount of emotional baggage but, it was too late to turn back. His behavior was nothing of what I would have tolerated had he not been in the military. A series of mood swings and acts of rebellion, many times put a damper on my romantic and feelings for him. His passionate side allowed me to continue loving him. He would hide and lurk yet block me out of communication with him. My growing concern burdened me when a friend told me he had placed a status message on his page that "he was dead" he offed himself. I frantically tried to contact him feeling guilty that I had not tried hard enough to be supportive of him. His reaction was totally unreasonable and he identified my concerns as stalking him. He asked me to meet him, as much as I cared I had to turn him down. I told him if he truly felt that way if I felt someone was in fact stalking me, I would in no uncertain terms "want" to meet them. He definitely had a problem identifying his feelings for me. I stood by him and provided whatever support he allowed me to give. I'd spend holidays with him on his web cam and countless hours of chat. After telling me I may be the one he comes home to when he leaves the military, he told me he would like to come to live with me at some point. I accepted. I'm still in contact with him and he has not gotten any better only worse. I care deeply for him and know there is a long hard road to his recovery. With a lot of love and compassion as well as emotional stability I hope to be supportive enough to at least give him that grip on hope he desperately needs. I believe in him and in return he doesn't always say the words but, his actions prove to me that he loves me very much. Enough for me to continue to be there for him. I am very proud of him. Never give up on our Vets. They have sacrificed so much for all of us. Stand by your man. For behind every great man there is a partner who is standing not stooping behind him. I stand proud!
I carry him in my heart.

 
B
Thank you for your clear statistical report on what goes on in the military to our men. We are all affected by this. On behalf of other woman who have had someone who they love go through deployment alone I must admit it's totally heartbreaking. A lot of soldiers, withdraw and we there partners, are left tormented by the problems. I was told, previously they actually had no transition time, to re-adjust back into civilian life. They are trying to improve however, the numbers do not show that it's working any better. There is also a very high incidence of suicide amongest our unmarried soldiers. With no real strong family ties. I was hit very hard by this because, I met a soldier who had little family to speak of. We met on the Internet and began an affair of some sorts. It began as friends and soon after it went to the next step. I pushed him away because, there was a huge age difference between us however, we don't always choose who we fall in love with it became more then him or I had planned on. He began with a tremendous amount of emotional baggage but, it was too late to turn back. His behavior was nothing of what I would have tolerated had he not been in the military. A series of mood swings and acts of rebellion, many times put a damper on my romantic and feelings for him. His passionate side allowed me to continue loving him. He would hide and lurk yet block me out of communication with him. My growing concern burdened me when a friend told me he had placed a status message on his page that "he was dead" he offed himself. I frantically tried to contact him feeling guilty that I had not tried hard enough to be supportive of him. His reaction was totally unreasonable and he identified my concerns as stalking him. He asked me to meet him, as much as I cared I had to turn him down. I told him if he truly felt that way if I felt someone was in fact stalking me, I would in no uncertain terms "want" to meet them. He definitely had a problem identifying his feelings for me. I stood by him and provided whatever support he allowed me to give. I'd spend holidays with him on his web cam and countless hours of chat. After telling me I may be the one he comes home to when he leaves the military, he told me he would like to come to live with me at some point. I accepted. I'm still in contact with him and he has not gotten any better only worse. I care deeply for him and know there is a long hard road to his recovery. With a lot of love and compassion as well as emotional stability I hope to be supportive enough to at least give him that grip on hope he desperately needs. I believe in him and in return he doesn't always say the words but, his actions prove to me that he loves me very much. Enough for me to continue to be there for him. I am very proud of him. Never give up on our Vets. They have sacrificed so much for all of us. Stand by your man. For behind every great man there is a partner who is standing not stooping behind him. I stand proud!
 
Principessa
Every time they approve another billion dollars for the war a set % should go towards restoration and repair of VA hospitals as well as providing qualified staff for all returning soldiers to help with the transition to civilian life. I think 20% is a good number.

Special attention should be paid to those who were munitions experts or in Special Forces units. These men and women are highly skilled and trained snipers/killers. These are not skills which translate to the white or blue collar world easily.:rolleyes: :duh:

It's great that the military is starting to destigmatize depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental health issues. Giving a soldier some Prozac and sending him back for his 3rd or 4th tour of duty is not going to help the situation. This is why we now have more soldiers committing suicide than in any other war.

I read somewhere that so many soldiers are leaving the armed forces with PTSD that they may now give the Purple Heart for having PTSD.
 
B
That's very sad. If I was married, I definately lead a protest on that fact alone. I love my soldier and even though I have no rights I am not a happy camper to know he and many others are exploited this way. I think they deserve a purple heart because, they have sacrificed so much to protect us back at home. I'm proud of my soldier and I am here for him no matter what his injuries are physical or mental. PTSD. Please Take Special Distant care somebody loves this person. We are watching what happens to our men!
 

Blog entry information

Author
Principessa
Read time
2 min read
Views
283
Comments
4
Last update

More entries in General

More entries from Principessa

Share this entry

Top Bottom