Mental Health in the Military

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Mental Health in the Military

Mental Health Concerns:

Other factors in a combat situation can add more stress to an already stressful situation. This may contribute to PTSD and other mental health problems. These factors include what you do in the war, the politics around the war, where the war is fought, and the type of enemy you face.
Nearly 1 in 4 active duty members showed signs of a mental health condition. According to a 2014 study in JAMA Psychiatry.
Three primary Mental health concerns that those serving in the military may encounter:
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Traumatic Brain Injury

Transitioning to Civilian Life:

Challenges:
- Reconnecting with family, entering the civilian workforce, creating a new structure, and adjusting to a different pace of life and work.
In a survey by Pew Research Center, they did research on the percentage in each group who say they had an easy time re-entering civilian life:
- “The survey also pinpoints some of the specific problems faced by returning service members who suffered service-related emotional trauma or serious injury. More than half (56%) of all veterans who experienced a traumatic event say they have had flashbacks or repeated distressing memories of the experience, and nearly half (46%) say they have suffered from post-traumatic stress. Predictably, those who suffer from PTS were significantly less likely to say their re-entry was easy than those who did not (34% vs. 82%).” (Morin, R. (2011). The Difficult Transition from Military to Civilian Life.)

Mental Health in the Military Statistics:

According to an article on Psychiatric Times, by Jeffrey A. Lieberman, as many as 50% of veterans experience significant difficulty reintegrating to civilian life with a third developing mental health problems including PTSD, anxiety disorders and depression.

30 percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health condition requiring treatment – approximately 730,000 men and women, with many experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression.
Less than 50 percent of returning veterans in need receive any mental health treatment.
The Veterans Administration reports that approximately 22 veterans die by suicide every day.
Lengths of deployments are associated with more emotional difficulties among military children and more mental health problems among U.S. Army wives.
In a study conducted by the U.S military, they found that the rate of major depression is five times as high among soldiers as civilians, intermittent explosive disorder, which results in episodes of extreme anger, is six times as high, and PTSD was nearly fifteen times higher than among civilians. (Willingham, V).
A statistics on PTSD:
- Out of 1,853 veterans who were surveyed by Pew Research Center, “About half of this group (49%) say they have suffered from PTSD. And about half (52%) also say they had emotionally traumatic or distressing experiences while in the military. Of those who had these types of experiences, three-in-four say they are still reliving them in the form of flashbacks or nightmares.” (Pew Research Center 2011).

Suicide:

Warning Signs:
- Talks or writes about suicide, death or ways to die
- Threatens to hurt or kill themselves
- Tries to obtains pills, guns or other means of self-harm
- Suffers a sudden or dramatic change in mood or behavior
- Expresses feeling hopeless or trapped
- Withdrawn from society (friends, family, coworkers, community)
- Unusual spending
- Begins preparing a will, giving away possessions or making arrangements for pets
- Dramatic mood changes
- Suffers from intense rage or desire for revenge
- Increases alcohol or drug use
- And when a service member is at a greater risk for suicide when they have a negative experience or prolonged constant stress as well as one of the following:
  - A recent return from deployment
  - Combat-related psychological injuries
  - Lack of advancement or career setback
  - A sense of a loss of honor, disciplinary actions
  - Grief from loss
  - Heavy drinking or other substance abuse
  - Mental or medical health problems
  - Negative attitude toward getting help

Suicides in the Military Statistics:

From 1977 to 2003, the Army suicide rate was consistently lower than was the civilian suicide rate. Since then we have seen an increase in the number of deaths by suicide among soldiers
Veterans comprised 22.2% of completed suicides in the U.S from 1999 to 2010, which included approximately 8,030 veterans per year who die by suicide (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012)
Key Findings in the VA National Suicide Date Report by the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs: (VA National Suicide Data Report 2005–2016)
- There were more than 6,000 veteran suicides each year from 2008 to 2016
- From 2005 to 2016, Veteran and non-veteran adult suicide rates increased 25.9 percent and 20.6 percent, respectively.
- In 2016, the suicide rate was 1.5 times greater for veterans than for non-veteran adults
- The suicide rate for veterans ages 18-34 increased substantially, from 40.4 suicide deaths per 100,00 population in 2015 to 45 suicide deaths per 100,000 population in 2016
- The suicide rates for Veterans ages 35–54, 55–74, and 75 and older did not increase from 2015 to 2016.
- Between 2005 and 2016, after adjusting for age differences, Veterans in Veterans
- Health Administration care had a higher rate of suicide but a lower increase in the rate of suicide compared to Veterans who were not in VHA care.

- If you or anyone you know is in distress or considering suicide, the Suicide Prevention Hotline is a free and confidential number you can call that is available 24 hours a day, everyday : 1-(800)-273-8255

- Veterans and other military personnel can access the Military Crisis Line by calling 1-(800)-273-8255 and press 1.

Military Counseling/Getting Help/Prevention:

Many studies have found that there has been a persistent stigma to mental health counseling within the military for many years.
U.S Department of Veteran Affairs spent $12.2 million on suicide prevention in fiscal year 2018.
What is the military’s work in promoting better mental health?
- Confidential counselors are available for service members and their families through Military One Source.
- The Department of Defense provides a variety of counseling options to all active-duty, National Guard and reserve service members, survivors, designated Department of Defense expeditionary civilians and their families. These are the services they provide:
  - Installation’s chaplain
    - In addition to offering spiritual guidance, chaplains in military units and commands are trained counselors who are attuned to military life.
  - Combat stress control teams
    - Are available as field resources support for service members during deployments. These teams of mental health professionals are embedded with units and offer unlimited access to help service members address concerns that arise in the field.
  - Non-medical counseling resources
  - The Family Advocacy Program
    - This program provides resources and support to help families develop and sustain healthy, strong relationships
  - TRICARE or your nearest military treatment facility
  - United States Department of Veterans Affairs counseling at Vet Centers.
  - Outside military support channels

Resources: (For those on active duty, Veterans, and military families)

U.S Department of Veteran Affairs - https://www.va.gov/
- Created to support veterans in all aspects of their life. Provides continuous research and data, benefits, resources, healthcare, education and training, and much more.
- Including organizations such as:
  - Veterans Health Administration
  - Office of Survivors Assistance
  - Veterans Benefits Administration
  - National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
    - As well as other mental health resources and facilities.
Military OneSource - https://www.militaryonesource.mil/
- Provides resources for veterans and those on active duty. Military personnel can contact Military OneSource whether they are in the U.S or overseas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
TRICARE - https://tricare.mil/
- TRICARE is a health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families

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Mental Health in the Military

Mental Health Concerns:

Other factors in a combat situation can add more stress to an already stressful situation. This may contribute to PTSD and other mental health problems. These factors include what you do in the war, the politics around the war, where the war is fought, and the type of enemy you face.

Nearly 1 in 4 active duty members showed signs of a mental health condition. According to a 2014 study in JAMA Psychiatry.

Three primary Mental health concerns that those serving in the military may encounter:

​Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Anxiety

Depression

Traumatic Brain Injury

Transitioning to Civilian Life:

Challenges:

​Reconnecting with family, entering the civilian workforce, creating a new structure, and adjusting to a different pace of life and work.

In a survey by Pew Research Center, they did research on the percentage in each group who say they had an easy time re-entering civilian life:

Mental Health in the Military Statistics:

​​

According to an article on Psychiatric Times, by Jeffrey A. Lieberman, as many as 50% of veterans experience significant difficulty reintegrating to civilian life with a third developing mental health problems including PTSD, anxiety disorders and depression.

​30 percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health condition requiring treatment – approximately 730,000 men and women, with many experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression.

Less than 50 percent of returning veterans in need receive any mental health treatment.

The Veterans Administration reports that approximately 22 veterans die by suicide every day.

Lengths of deployments are associated with more emotional difficulties among military children and more mental health problems among U.S. Army wives.

A statistics on PTSD:

Suicide:

​

Warning Signs:

​Talks or writes about suicide, death or ways to die

Threatens to hurt or kill themselves

Tries to obtains pills, guns or other means of self-harm

Suffers a sudden or dramatic change in mood or behavior

Expresses feeling hopeless or trapped

Withdrawn from society (friends, family, coworkers, community)

Unusual spending

Begins preparing a will, giving away possessions or making arrangements for pets

Dramatic mood changes

Suffers from intense rage or desire for revenge

Increases alcohol or drug use

And when a service member is at a greater risk for suicide when they have a negative experience or prolonged constant stress as well as one of the following:

​A recent return from deployment

Combat-related psychological injuries

Lack of advancement or career setback

A sense of a loss of honor, disciplinary actions

Grief from loss

Heavy drinking or other substance abuse

Mental or medical health problems

Negative attitude toward getting help

​

​

Suicides in the Military Statistics:

​​

From 1977 to 2003, the Army suicide rate was consistently lower than was the civilian suicide rate. Since then we have seen an increase in the number of deaths by suicide among soldiers

Veterans comprised 22.2% of completed suicides in the U.S from 1999 to 2010, which included approximately 8,030 veterans per year who die by suicide (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2012)

Key Findings in the VA National Suicide Date Report by the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs: (VA National Suicide Data Report 2005–2016)

​There were more than 6,000 veteran suicides each year from 2008 to 2016

From 2005 to 2016, Veteran and non-veteran adult suicide rates increased 25.9 percent and 20.6 percent, respectively.

In 2016, the suicide rate was 1.5 times greater for veterans than for non-veteran adults

The suicide rate for veterans ages 18-34 increased substantially, from 40.4 suicide deaths per 100,00 population in 2015 to 45 suicide deaths per 100,000 population in 2016

The suicide rates for Veterans ages 35–54, 55–74, and 75 and older did not increase from 2015 to 2016.

Between 2005 and 2016, after adjusting for age differences, Veterans in Veterans

Health Administration care had a higher rate of suicide but a lower increase in the rate of suicide compared to Veterans who were not in VHA care.

- If you or anyone you know is in distress or considering suicide, the Suicide Prevention Hotline is a free and confidential number you can call that is available 24 hours a day, everyday : 1-(800)-273-8255

- Veterans and other military personnel can access the Military Crisis Line by calling 1-(800)-273-8255 and press 1.

Military Counseling/Getting Help/Prevention:

​​

Many studies have found that there has been a persistent stigma to mental health counseling within the military for many years.

U.S Department of Veteran Affairs spent $12.2 million on suicide prevention in fiscal year 2018.

What is the military’s work in promoting better mental health?

​Confidential counselors are available for service members and their families through Military One Source.

The Department of Defense provides a variety of counseling options to all active-duty, National Guard and reserve service members, survivors, designated Department of Defense expeditionary civilians and their families. These are the services they provide:

​Installation’s chaplain

In addition to offering spiritual guidance, chaplains in military units and commands are trained counselors who are attuned to military life.

Combat stress control teams

Are available as field resources support for service members during deployments. These teams of mental health professionals are embedded with units and offer unlimited access to help service members address concerns that arise in the field.

Non-medical counseling resources

The Family Advocacy Program

This program provides resources and support to help families develop and sustain healthy, strong relationships

TRICARE or your nearest military treatment facility

United States Department of Veterans Affairs counseling at Vet Centers.

Outside military support channels

Resources: (For those on active duty, Veterans, and military families)

U.S Department of Veteran Affairs - https://www.va.gov/

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Reconnecting with family, entering the civilian workforce, creating a new structure, and adjusting to a different pace of life and work.

30 percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health condition requiring treatment – approximately 730,000 men and women, with many experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression.

Talks or writes about suicide, death or ways to die

A recent return from deployment

There were more than 6,000 veteran suicides each year from 2008 to 2016

Confidential counselors are available for service members and their families through Military One Source.

Installation’s chaplain

Veterans Health Administration

As well as other mental health resources and facilities.

Provides resources for veterans and those on active duty. Military personnel can contact Military OneSource whether they are in the U.S or overseas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.