By Pete Scherer
May has been observed as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States for over 70 years. This is often an opportunity to discuss mental health trends and educate the public on issues such as depression, schizophrenia and suicide prevention.
The U.S. Military is no stranger when it comes to addressing mental health concerns. According to the National Institute of Health, two of the most common problems afflicting veterans include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Furthermore, suicide rates continue to climb with over 6000 veterans dying each year. Meanwhile other military personnel suffer from traumatic brain injuries which may impact their mental health.
To honor the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month we wanted to delve into some of these issues. By improving awareness, we hope to foster conversations about these topics among veterans and their friends and families. We hope these discussions will help reduce the stigma regarding mental illness.
PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be caused by a number of factors. Although direct combat experience is one of the more well-known causes of PTSD, other trauma can include sexual assault and training incidents.
According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, seven percent of veterans will suffer from PTSD at some point. Furthermore women have an increased risk of PTSD (thirteen-percent) compared to male veterans (six percent).
The National Center for PTSD lists four recurring symptoms for this disorder, although they manifest differently between individuals:
- Reliving past trauma
Victims of PTSD find themselves reliving traumatic experiences. This may occur through nightmares, flashbacks, or through encountering things that remind victims of past events.
- Avoidance
Those who are suffering from PTSD will try to avoid situations that remind them of the event. For example, if a veteran survived a bombing on their military convoy they might avoid driving a vehicle.
- Increased negative thoughts and emotions
Trauma can negatively impact a victim’s relationships and ability to enjoy new experiences. Some might feel a sense of numbness, finding it hard to maintain interest in beloved hobbies.The experience might make them suspicious of other individuals. Alternatively, the victim might suffer a crippling sense of shame such as survivor’s guilt. - Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal refers to being in a constant state of high alert. This condition can greatly tax the body resulting in sleep disorders, irritability and increased difficulties in focusing on everyday tasks. It may result in the victim taking up smoking, alcohol or drugs to numb the effects.
Depression
Depression is a recurring issue due to military service members having risk compared to the civilian population. It is estimated that 15% of veterans from the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from this issue, although these findings may be underreported due to stigma towards mental illness.
As with other mental health conditions, the cause of depression can vary among individuals. Factors can include long periods of separation from loved ones, the constant threat of losing friends and colleagues, and stress from deployment.
Depression can manifest through a variety of symptoms which can include emotional numbness, reduced physical and mental performance, disrupted sleep patterns, and a loss of pleasure in favorite activities.
Thoughts of suicide are another common element of depression. Among the veteran community, 11% have made attempts at killing themselves or reported suicidal thoughts. Drug and alcohol use further increase the risk.
One challenge when addressing the issue of depression is stigma. Many service members and veterans are reluctant to discuss mental health concerns due to misconceptions around mental health coupled with high expectations of performance.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” In the military, such injuries are often associated with explosions from combat operations and training, although other causes such as vehicular accidents can also be a cause.
The effects of TBI vary on the severity of the injury. Common conditions can include headaches, irritability, sleep disorders, memory problems, impeded cognitive ability, and depression. Over time these symptoms can develop into long term health problems.
According to a report by the VA, the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center cited 414,000 cases of TBIs among military service members between 2000 and 2019, with a further 185,000 veterans diagnosed by the VA. Most of these cases are classified as mild.
Although most cases of mild TBI will resolve within a short period of time, some cases may persist for periods lasting months. Furthermore, multiple TBIs can result in greater risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Parkinson’s.
When it comes to the mental welfare of the military community, there is a lot of work that can be done. If you or someone you know is suffering from these conditions know that there are resources available to help.
If you know of any community resources that can assist veterans or their families with mental health concerns, please share with us. And remember, the least any of us can do is to practice empathy, and recognize the human over the psychological labels.