For the month of April I am participating in the annual A-Z Blogging Challenge. The Challenge was started by author/blogger, Arlee Byrd.
http://tossingitout.blogspot.com
Each day of the month (except Sundays) we will post something based on that days correlating letter. Some of us chose a theme and others are winging it. My theme is the A-to-Z’s of Mental Health, Raising Awareness. It is a topic that is very close to my heart. I hope you find the posts interesting and you will comment and share the posts everywhere. To see a list of all of the participants or for more information-click on the badge over there to the right>
Today’s letter is the Letter U
United States Military and Mental Health/ The Facts
More than two-million Americans have served in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. At least twenty-percent of them are now experiencing PTSD.
While battle related deaths are down, we are now losing veterans in increasing numbers to suicide. The VA has been struggling to keep up with and to recognize those military personal that are in great need of mental health services.
If you are a veteran in crisis or if you know of a veteran in crisis, please call 24/7:
800-273-8255 and press 1 OR text 838255, also 24/7 for live help.
These services are free to active military, veterans and their families.
Quick Statistics
There were 9.2 million veterans aged 65 and older. On the other end of the scale, 1.9 million were under 35.
There are 7.8 million Vietnam veterans (35% of all living veterans served during this era), 5.2 million who served during the Gulf War, and 2.6 million World War II veterans.
PTSD and Mental Health
1 in 3 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will face a serious psychological injury. Nearly 1 in 5 veterans has been diagnosed with PTSD.
300,000 troops have been deployed to the Middle East at least three times. Multiple tours increase rates of combat stress by 50%.
12% of high level combat troops in Iraq and 17% in Afghanistan take prescription antidepressants or sleeping medications.
Only about 50% of those screening positive for PTSD or major depression seek help.
Healthcare for a veteran with PTSD costs 3.5 times as much as care for those not diagnosed with the disorder. Treatment for veterans suffering from PTSD who served in Iraq and Afghanistan has cost more than $2 billion so far.
Suicides among U.S. troops are up 18% since 2012, averaging nearly one a day—the highest they’ve been since the war on terror began a decade ago. Suicide has risen to the highest noncombat death toll among soldiers.
Veterans account for 20% of all U.S. suicides, and younger veterans—aging from 17 to 24—have suicide rates four times higher than other veterans.
A number of PTSD diagnoses have been linked to military sexual trauma (MST), defined as sexual assault or harassment that occurred during a veteran’s service. 1 in 5 women and 1 in 100 men have admitted to suffering MST. Due to social stigma against harassment and assault victims, it is likely that there are many more victims who choose to remain silent.
75% of veterans of the war in Vietnam have experienced drug, alcohol, or mental health problems. Over 40,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been treated for drug abuse, though it is likely that there are thousands more who avoid treatment.
Sources: Face the Facts USA, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Veterans for Common Sense, Truth Out, IAVA, Disabled World, LA Times
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18 thoughts on “United States Military and Mental Health/ The Facts”
Sad stats but true and hence Wars end up being not only on the battlefields but long after, they remain in the heads, minds and psychic of several involved. At least out there you have those med services and all
It is all so sad.
If we’re going to send our men and women to war and spend all this money in support of war efforts then we need to do a much better job of supporting them when they return home. I find our country’s treatment of veterans to be embarrassingly inadequate, though we are making progress it’s not enough. Thanks for focusing on this.
Our VA is trying to catch up but they are failing badly. It is embarrassing.
Thanks for providing the number to call to get help. Sometimes I think people just don’t know where to start.
I am stunned a lot lately by the young vets that don’t realize help is available.
I’m wondering if this is more prevalent in recent wars than in the long ago past. I remember WW2 vets being shell-shocked, as they called it. But i’m glad I never had to go to war.
Most believe it was as prevelant in past wars it was just hidden because of the fear of stigma.
Oh what seriously depressing statistics! I knew it was bad, but didn’t know it was this bad. I am a volunteer columnist for an organization called BOHO, Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow. They pick up when the regular shelters fill up. I interviewed the director of the sleeping shelter, and he confirmed that a huge number of the homeless population is vets, most of them Vietnam vets. I find that deplorable that those who so self-lessly gave, now have so few places to turn.
Thanks for visiting today!
Tina @ Life is Good
A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014
It is so embarrassing how bad these numbers are.
My second book ia the story of a homeless woman my husband and I took in. Another disgraceful little srcret in this country.
Very sad to see those statistics. We owe our vets much more than what they are getting.
I agree. It is shameful.
i am embarrassed to live in this country with the shameful way we treat our veterans. this is such an important topic. thanks for the information.
It is a shame. I think we are trying to be better just not fast enough.
Thank you for highlighting such an important issue that gets often overlooked.
Thank you.It is a subject very close to my heart.
21 veterans commit suicide every day.
But there are those behind the scenes, the caregivers and family members, that go uncounted. CNN did a piece on just this a few weeks back. You can see it here: http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2014/03/us/uncounted-suicides/
I think we need to educate everyone about this. Thank you for doing your part!
Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z
Caring for My Veteran
We sure do. The more we write and talk about it the better the chances of someone that needs it will receive it.