Opinion: The struggle when veterans return home: mental health issues

Many military personnel feel called to serve their country and feel honored to do so. They risk their lives to fight for the freedom and safety of others, but at what cost? Some veterans must go without a parent, child, spouse or sibling on vacation or other special occasions while stationed out of state or country to serve for months or even years at a time. Not to mention that some veterans return from war or combat with general health issues, including mental health issues.

Florida is home to 1.43 million veterans and has the third largest veteran population in the country. November marks a critical time to raise awareness of the unique struggle veterans may face once they return home: mental health issues.

Mental health problems can seriously affect a person’s quality of life, making it difficult to work, maintain relationships, and enjoy the daily activities they once loved. For veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, these effects can be amplified.

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as war, natural disasters, physical/sexual abuse, or the sudden death of a loved one. Symptoms may include reliving the event through flashbacks or nightmares, avoiding places or objects that remind you of the experience, feeling nervous or angry, and having trouble sleeping or concentrating. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that approximately 20 percent of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from PTSD or depression.

Due to the stigma that still exists around this topic, some people with mental health problems may not seek necessary treatment. Unfortunately, as a result, seventeen veterans die by suicide every day, according to the 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. This is not only a national problem, but a local problem as well.

According to data from The Fire Watch, a Florida-based nonprofit that offers suicide intervention training to the community, 655 Florida veterans died by suicide in 2022. Florida’s Gulf Coast is a densely populated veteran region with a total of 97,000 veterans living throughout Lee. , Collier, Charlotte, Hendy and Glades counties. The rate of veteran deaths by suicide in Lee County alone is among the highest in the state at 73.4 suicides per 100,000 veterans.

Additionally, data from the Mission Roll Call movement shows that an estimated 41% of veterans need mental health programs each year. And yet, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, fewer than 50% of returning veterans receive any form of mental health care.

Risk factors for suicide for veterans can include physical health problems such as chronic pain, illness or disability, limited support networks from individuals with similar experiences, alcohol or drug addiction, and social isolation. Some veterans may also suffer from survivor’s guilt, which is guilt related to the survival or death of comrades, leading to potentially severe emotional distress or suicidal thoughts.

Mental health is still considered a “taboo” topic for many, which is why it is important that we as a society continue to learn and help create a safe space for our family, friends and neighbors to share their mental health experiences. share health care and get the professional help they deserve. There are several treatment options that veterans and their families can pursue, including individual psychotherapy (talk therapy), group therapy, family therapy, psychiatry, and medication management, which can be used individually or in combination to achieve the desired results.

The first step to feeling better is to recognize the need for support, whether it comes from a family member, friend, or professional. It is important to remember that you are never alone. Help is available through veterans and community support groups and mental health providers.

Our service men and women make the ultimate sacrifice for us, and they deserve professional guidance and support to lead them to a happier, healthier future.

Dr. Omar Rieche is the chief medical officer of Elite DNA Behavioral Health. Elite DNA is committed to providing accessible, affordable mental health care to everyone and has become one of the largest mental health providers in the state, providing in-person and virtual behavioral health care to children, adolescents and adults in more than 30 locations throughout Florida. For more information, visit EliteDNA.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Opinion: The struggle when veterans return home: mental health issues