Military
People who serve in the military and veterans can face unique challenges. There are many emotions involved with being at war, separated from loved ones, as well as the stressors that are inherent in multiple and extended deployments. The stress encountered in service abroad can also play a role and cause mental health issues, including anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse.
In addition to these mental health issues, the war has exposed many soldiers to traumatic brain injury or multiple concussions from exposure to IEDS (improvised explosive devices). The military and their families should have full access to counseling by mental health professionals to help them cope with temporary or permanent losses.
An American Psychiatric Association survey highlights the issues that soldiers and their spouses cope with:
More than one-third self report experiencing anxiety (military member 38%, military spouse 39%) and feeling depression (military member 40%, military spouse 33%) at least twice a week. In addition to stress caused by worry for their loved one serving in the military, spouses reported a lot or a little stress from handling domestic issues alone (60%) and single parenting (54%). More than six in ten military members (61%) think that seeking help for mental health concerns would have at least some negative impact on their career.
Helping our Troops and their Families at Home
The Give an Hour organization and the American Psychiatric Foundation have partnered to recruit mental health professionals to volunteer to help the men and women serving in our military.
Military service members returning from war and their families deserve access to appropriate mental health care. Give an Hour is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of the troops and families. They provide counseling to individuals, couples and families, and children and adolescents and offer treatment for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, sexual health and intimacy concerns, and loss and grieving.
Additional resources for military and their families are here.
