The Big Picture: The Top Issues
The most startling fact of this year’s survey is that a large percentage of folks who exhibited Post-Traumatic Stress had not sought treatment. The graphic above answers the question WHY? But this fact is indicative of a larger issue that many military face — the stigma of PTS and perhaps more importantly the stigma of mental health treatment.
More than 4,000 people weighed in on the issues that affect military families. For more results, click here and stay tuned as Blue Star Families zeroes in on not only the problems but the tremendous strength and perseverance that truly define milfams.
For more information, go to Blue Star Families
I am so glad that someone in the limelight has brought our Vets health to the masses! As an Army brat I have lost my Uncle to agent orange cancer and my step father to a military relate illness!!! The hospitals are woefully inadequate!!! My grandfather suffered from Ptsd for as long as I have known him. But he refused to get help! The stigmatizem they face is horrible. Instead they try to push it down and hide it. But it remained until the day he left us. My Uncle would jump and the hair on his arms would stand on end if a door slammed!!! He hasn’t recovered from Battle either. I mention these men in my life and the problems they have had to let people know how real this problem is. May our young new soldiers know that there is help out there. Thank you for supporting our troops!
There is a conflict about helping our veterans. So much of the community really wants to help our veterans, but as noted there is a stigma or fear to being around PTSD vets. The help at any VA clinic is very limited, mental help usually revolves around group (i.e. cheap) therapy or loading them up with psychotrophic meds with little monitoring. There are programs from many groups to help, but it is piecemeal, helping only a certain “slice” of the veterans. The sad issue is that homeless vets, including females or families has only decreased by 17% in the last 5 years. Even though we are shutting down 2 wars, it does look like areas in the Middle East are ready to go up in flames, requiring the we send in “peacekeeping” troops.