Vietnam War Veterans

During the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, American troops’ mental health injuries have been

documented as they occur, and rates are already comparable to Vietnam. Thanks to today’s

Understanding of mental health screening and treatment, the battle for mental health care fought

by the Vietnam veterans need not be repeated. We have an unprecedented opportunity to respond

Immediately and effectively to the veterans’ mental health crisis.

Rates of mental health problems among new veterans are high and rising. The best evidence

suggests that about one in three Iraq veterans will face a serious psychological injury, such as

depression, anxiety, or PTSD. About 1.5 million people have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, so

Approximately

Although many veterans are suffering from other psychological wounds, such as depression,

hallmark mental health injury for veterans is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is

a psychological condition that occurs after an extremely traumatic or life-threatening event, and

has symptoms including persistent recollections of the trauma, heightened alertness, nightmares,

Insomnia, and irritability.3 in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the Congressionally-mandated

National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment study estimated that approximately 15 percent of

service members suffered PTSD during the conflict. Overall, as many as 30 percent

suffered PTSD at some point after their service.4

Stress and stress injuries such as PTSD may contribute to misconduct in service members and

veterans, according to Captain Bill Nash, an expert in the Marine Corps Combat/Operational

Stress Control program.28 Military studies suggest that troops who test positive for mental health

Problems are twice as likely to “engage in unethical behavior,” such as insulting or injuring non-

combatants or destroying property unnecessarily. In addition, the rates of mental

Mental health wounds have

also pushed troops and veterans to take their own lives. The suicide rate for troops on active

duty has risen, feeding concerns about whether troops showing signs of mental health injuries

their first deployment are being sent back to Iraq or Afghanistan without adequate treatment.44

health care if they wish to begin careers as police officers, fire fighters, or emergency medical

technicians.

There is also widespread concern that a mental health diagnosis will affect ones

military career, including eligibility for certain security clearances. In all of these cases,

diagnosed psychological injuries can affect employability. Given such obvious disincentives, it is

knowledge that troops do not fill out their assessments accurately. Even the VA’s