From NRI's State Mental Health Agency Services Research, Program Evaluation and Policy in DC, PTSD Then and Now, There and Here, Robert J. Ursano, MD, Director, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress www.usuhs.mil/csts.
Robert Glover (Ex Dir., NASMHPD) introduction. NASMHPD has been focusing on this at a high level and considers it a serious problem. Concerned about suicide prevention particularly with returning National Guard and reservists. 1-800-273-talk (www.shicidepreventionlifeline.org) suicide prevention lifeline which has access to military. On last Saturday 238 vets called the line for help!
"Trauma is bad for your health" and "War is a trauma."
Hospitalizations in the DoD for trauma are second only to those for pregnancy.
Trauma associated with death is important for some individuals but trauma associated with separation and return is the common event for all service personnel.
War is an intentional and human made traumatic event the combination of which create the most trauma. 1.5 million Americans have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan (300,000/state; 1,500-6,000 cases of PTSD/Depression per state). Because combat is an ongoing traumatic event it is harder to treat and does not respond as readily to medications.
Of the vets who have problems only 20% actually get specialized MH treatment. If you have PTSD you are likely to fear admitting the problem or getting service because it would negatively impact your career. This is no different from the risks people in the general population feel.
PTSD treatment (for all individuals) often does not begin for 12 years after the events. Even then only 65% actually get treatment. PTSD seems to increase over the course of time with injured solders having 12% PTSD and 9% depression after 7 months.