Veteran Mental Health (Community Project)

It is essential for us to tackle the significant challenge of veteran social development, health, and well-being when returning to the community. It is very common for veterans returning from combat to experience PTSD and other significant emotional waves to survive traumatic events. Many have thoughts of death and suicide.

Imagine you are just returning from battle and trying to transition back to civilian life. Without help and guidance, it would be very difficult. It is essential for us to tackle the significant challenge of veteran social development, health, and well-being when returning to the community. It is very common for veterans returning from combat to experience PTSD and other significant emotional waves to survive traumatic events. Many have thoughts of death and suicide.

For veterans, mental health can be much more of an impediment to their daily life than physical health. About 15% of Vietnam veterans are diagnosed with PTSD currently, and it's estimated that 30% will experience PTSD in their lifetime. Around 22 veterans die by suicide each day; only about five are in the VA Health Care System. 15.6% of veterans are diagnosed with a depressive disorder at some point, which is more than double the prevalence of depressive disorders in U.S. adults. The mental health of veterans can be very overlooked, leading to isolation from the community they once loved. Educating people on why it’s important will increase the amount of people who want to get involved.

Hearing a typical story from these veterans can help you better empathize.  Richard Winters, a former United States Army officer who served as a paratrooper in the Easy Company of the 506th Infantry Regiment within the 101st Airborne Division during World War 2, shares his story on adjusting from combat conditions back to civilian life. “I’m going to look you straight in the eye. Do you think this guy you're looking at today has adjusted to this day? It's a slow process.” Richard Winters stated that once he returned home, he just wanted to take walks by himself to get away from family and other people. On one of these walks, he passed a fence. A kid was walking by holding a stick and started dragging it along the fence, making a loud sound. He found himself by the gutter from a natural reaction to the years he spent hitting ditches whenever a machine gun fires. “...You relive this with flashbacks.’ This is an example of the type of PTSD veterans experience daily. Winters explains how it is much easier for veterans to talk to people who fought by their side in the army and have shared experiences rather than someone who has never been overseas. Veterans tend to withdraw themselves from conversing with civilians for this reason, which is a massive factor in why so many suffer from isolation. “You do not want to leave the impression that you were bragging, no, you are not bragging; you're just sharing a memory, which is hard to do.”

There are ways for each of us to be part of the solution.  There are a few local organizations that are effectively focusing on this issue. Texas Health and Human Services Mental Health Program for Veterans (or TexVet) aims to "connect the veteran community to trusted information and resources.” They support local Texas communities in expanding the availability, increasing access, and enhancing the delivery of mental health treatment and services to veterans. TexVet is trustworthy and connects communities with scientific investigators who serve them to bring together cutting-edge research and real-world applications. Another example is the Samaritan Center, which supports healing and restores hope for veterans while focusing on their mental, physical, spiritual, and social well-being. They provide mental health services for individual or family counseling, support groups, peer support (talking with other veterans), and care management (connecting veterans to community resources). Samaritan Center also works with licensed therapists who provide treatment for PTSD, TBI, anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, etc.  

Once again, without the correct guidance for veterans recovering their mental health, the more likely this will become even more ignored, decreasing the number of organizations providing treatment and therapy. It is encouraged that you spread the word to family and friends because you never know who may know a veteran in need.