Did you know that 30 percent of active duty and reserve military personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have a mental health condition requiring treatment? Of that percentage, approximately 730,000 men and women experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression.
Here is where we as a nation are failing our Veterans: Only 50 percent of returning Veterans receive mental health treatment. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), approximately 22 Veterans die by suicide every day.
In recognition of Mental Health Month, the VA launched “The Moment When” campaign, a nationwide effort in May 2019 featuring Veterans’ personal experiences with mental health treatment and recovery. The campaign aims to demystify mental health treatment, build awareness of available mental health resources, and encourage family members and friends to start the conversation with a Veteran going through a hard time.
Mental health is a serious issue that can often go untreated. If you are a family member or friend of a Vet, think about the mentality of a person willing to risk life and limb for our country. They are brave, strong, and therefore among the most likely to perceive mental issues as a weakness.
“The Moment When” campaign highlights many moments in the broader mental health recovery process: from the moment when a Veteran reached out for support, to the moment when he or she realized treatment was working.
Throughout the month of May and beyond, we encourage Veterans and their families to visit MaketheConnection.net/MHM to explore stories of recovery and find local resources.
Veterans who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, and those who know a Veteran in crisis, can call the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) for confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call 800-273-8255 and press 1, send a text message to 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
At our firm, we applaud the efforts of the VA to help our Veterans transition to civilian life. However, the system has yet to be perfected, and many of our disabled Veterans continue to fall through the cracks or get the runaround. If you are a Veteran and have developed PTSD as a result of your service, you are likely eligible for Veterans’ disability benefits. Please do not become a statistic. First and foremost, get the help you need. Then call our team for a free consultation.
