Some military members never see combat. However, others do multiple tours in combat zones and see things most people can't imagine. Certain individuals witness serious training accidents. All of these events may bring about PTSD in a servicemember.
PTSD
rates are higher in those who have served in the military. Seven percent of
veterans will struggle with this condition, while only six percent of the
general population will be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in
their lifetimes. Female veterans are at higher risk, and the military is
currently researching rates for transgender and non-binary service members.
Any
Tricare drug rehab
facility serving veterans must recognize this and determine whether a patient
needs treatment for PTSD along with their addiction treatment. Treatment for
both conditions will allow for a complete recovery. Who is most likely to need
this dual treatment?
Service Eres
PTSD
rates vary by the service era. Twenty-nine percent of men and women who served
during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom will be
diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lifetimes. This number drops to
three percent for veterans who served in World War II or the Korean War.
However, various methods were used to gather this data, which may affect the
researchers' findings. In addition, the studies only looked at living
servicemembers. Rates may be higher, as those who are deceased were not
included in these counts. Deceased veterans may have had a higher rate of PTSD.
Risk Factors
Certain
things put a servicemember at higher risk of PTSD. Veterans who deployed have a
higher rate of PTSD than those who served stateside when looking at the same
service era. The rate for deployed veterans is three times higher. Certain
elements seen in combat situations may increase the risk of mental health
issues. These elements include the veteran's military job or specialty, the
location where they saw combat, which enemy they faced, and the politics
surrounding the war.
Military sexual trauma can also bring about PTSD in
a servicemember. This trauma is the result of sexual harassment or sexual
assault that occurs while the individual is serving their country. MST is not
limited to wartime. It may happen at any time.
VA Health Care
Some
veterans choose to seek care outside the VA system. Of those veterans who do
use VA care, 23 percent have suffered from PTSD at some point. Only seven
percent of veterans seeking care outside of the government system have been
diagnosed with PTSD at some time. In fiscal year 2021, 10 percent of male
veterans seeking VA care had PTSD, and 19 percent of female victims had this
diagnosis.
MST
is one reason women are more likely to be diagnosed with this condition.
Approximately 33 percent of women report experiencing MST. Only two percent of
male veterans report they have been a victim of sexual harassment or sexual
assault while serving in the military. The numbers may be much higher,
particularly among men who may not feel comfortable sharing their experiences.
Research
into PTSD must continue, as it affects many people. Additional attention must
be paid to veterans of color, LGBTQ+ Veterans, and other minority groups to
ensure the unique challenges they experience are addressed. A problem must be
identified before it can be changed, so the military must make research into
PTSD a priority. Doing so will strengthen the military and the lives of those
who serve.
