By: Andrew Davenport, Founder & Executive Director, A New Veteran
The month of November holds a lot of significance for us as a country–and not just for the holiday involving turkey and dressing. November 11 is designated as Veteran’s Day, a federal holiday set aside to honor all veterans who currently serve or who have previously served in the United States military. Different from Memorial Day, which honors those who gave their lives in service, Veteran’s Day honors every veteran, including those walking among us, living and working as our neighbors, family members, friends, and those still dealing with battles we can’t see.
Not only is it a day to acknowledge their sacrifices for their country, Veteran’s Day is also a good reminder that mental health services for veterans should be an integral part of their lives. Robust community resources and awareness help increase access to those who have offered so much of their lives for love of their country, but we can all use some help finding where those resources may be located. This Veteran’s Day might be the perfect time to find out more about the special mental health needs of veterans so you can reach out with information to those you love.
The mental health needs of veterans can vary and are personalized to individual experiences and support systems. A veteran faces a larger amount of high-risk situations that civilians often don’t encounter in their everyday lives.
Due to the prolonged intensity of their working conditions, veterans may have increased trauma and Post-traumatic Stress (PTSD) when compared with their civilian counterparts. In fact, the VA estimates that around 29 out of 100 veterans have/will have some level of PTSD at some point in their lives. Deployment can increase risk of PTSD up to three times compared to those who are never deployed during their service. Adjustments when transitioning to civilian life after retiring from military service can also increase these needs.
Service members facing these challenges will benefit from therapy and mental health services, but, just as anyone facing mental health challenges understands, the knowledge of those resources and understanding around need is sometimes the biggest hurdle. Veterans gave so much of themselves for us…we can remind them they are not alone and provide support for them.
Check out some of the resources below and be sure to share them with a veteran you love:
NAMI Homefront Mental Health Resources
Operation Honor: Rural Salute™ | Serving Veterans Where Others Don’t
What is AboutFace? | AboutFace
The Headstrong Project – 501c3 nonprofit for Veteran Mental Health