| Copyright 2007 Colorado Veterans Alliance |
Mental Health issues Faced By Iraq Veterans
At least one-in-three Iraq veterans and one-in-nine Afghanistan
veterans will face a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, or
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Multiple tours and
inadequate rest between deployments have increased the stress of
combat. PTSD rates for Iraq veterans are already higher than the
rates recorded among veterans of Vietnam.
These mental health problems exact a severe toll on military families;
rates of marital stress, substance abuse, and suicide have all
increased. The Army has seen an almost three-fold increase in
"alcohol- related incidents" between 2005 and 2006. And tens of
thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been treated at a
VA hospital for drug or alcohol abuse.
The response to the crisis by the Defense Department has been
inadequate. 90% of military psychiatrists, psychologists and social
workers reported no formal training or supervision in the
recommended PTSD therapies, and there is a general shortage of
trained mental health professionals in the military. The Pentagon
screens returning troops for mental health problems via an
ineffective system of paperwork. Studies have shown that many
troops are not filling out their mental health forms, that there are
serious disincentives for troops to fill the form out accurately, and
that those whose forms indicate they need care do not consistently
get referrals.
The Veterans Affairs health care system has been flooded by new
veterans seeking care. As of September 2006, almost 700,000 Iraq
and Afghanistan veterans are eligible for health care through the
Veterans Affairs system, and about 1/3 of these veterans have
already sought VA care. More than 36% of Iraq and Afghanistan
veterans who visited a VA hospital for any reason were given a
possible mental disorder diagnosis. At least 45,521 Iraq and
Afghanistan veterans had been treated for possible PTSD at a VA
hospital or Vet Center. Of course, these numbers do not include
those who have only sought mental health care outside of the VA, or
those veterans with mental health problems who have not sought
treatment.
Massive miscalculations by the VA have dramatically worsened the
mental health crisis. In February 2006, the VA claimed it was
expecting only 2,900 new veteran PTSD cases in FY 2006. The
actual number is likely to be about six times that: 17,827 new
veterans got an initial PTSD diagnosis. The VA has also consistently
failed to spend the money it has been allotted for mental health care.
In 2005 and 2006, the VA failed to spend a total of $100 million
dollars earmarked by Congress for mental health care.
At least one-in-three Iraq veterans and one-in-nine Afghanistan
veterans will face a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, or
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Multiple tours and
inadequate rest between deployments have increased the stress of
combat. PTSD rates for Iraq veterans are already higher than the
rates recorded among veterans of Vietnam.
These mental health problems exact a severe toll on military families;
rates of marital stress, substance abuse, and suicide have all
increased. The Army has seen an almost three-fold increase in
"alcohol- related incidents" between 2005 and 2006. And tens of
thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been treated at a
VA hospital for drug or alcohol abuse.
The response to the crisis by the Defense Department has been
inadequate. 90% of military psychiatrists, psychologists and social
workers reported no formal training or supervision in the
recommended PTSD therapies, and there is a general shortage of
trained mental health professionals in the military. The Pentagon
screens returning troops for mental health problems via an
ineffective system of paperwork. Studies have shown that many
troops are not filling out their mental health forms, that there are
serious disincentives for troops to fill the form out accurately, and
that those whose forms indicate they need care do not consistently
get referrals.
The Veterans Affairs health care system has been flooded by new
veterans seeking care. As of September 2006, almost 700,000 Iraq
and Afghanistan veterans are eligible for health care through the
Veterans Affairs system, and about 1/3 of these veterans have
already sought VA care. More than 36% of Iraq and Afghanistan
veterans who visited a VA hospital for any reason were given a
possible mental disorder diagnosis. At least 45,521 Iraq and
Afghanistan veterans had been treated for possible PTSD at a VA
hospital or Vet Center. Of course, these numbers do not include
those who have only sought mental health care outside of the VA, or
those veterans with mental health problems who have not sought
treatment.
Massive miscalculations by the VA have dramatically worsened the
mental health crisis. In February 2006, the VA claimed it was
expecting only 2,900 new veteran PTSD cases in FY 2006. The
actual number is likely to be about six times that: 17,827 new
veterans got an initial PTSD diagnosis. The VA has also consistently
failed to spend the money it has been allotted for mental health care.
In 2005 and 2006, the VA failed to spend a total of $100 million
dollars earmarked by Congress for mental health care.
| Our Mission: To ensure the enactment of policies that properly provide for our Troops and Veterans, keep our military strong, and guarantee our national security for the purpose of a stronger America. CVA uniquely empowers Veterans to use their credibility and experiences to speak truth to power, shape public opinion, and place a priority on these issues. |
| COLORADO VETERANS ALLIANCE |
| "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive how the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." - George Washington |
