Support, Resources, FAQs

Support and Resources

Access to Support Services: Families often need support services to navigate the transition. Access to counseling, support groups, and educational resources can help families cope with the challenges they face​ (MedCity News)​.

Community and Social Support: Building a strong network of community and social support can help alleviate some of the stress associated with the transition. Families can benefit from connecting with other veteran families who understand their experiences​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Recommendations for Support

Counseling and Therapy: Professional counseling for both veterans and family members can help address mental health issues and improve communication and relationships.

Education and Awareness: Providing families with education about the potential challenges and available resources can empower them to better support their transitioning veteran.

Community Programs: Engaging in community programs specifically designed for veterans and their families can provide valuable support and reduce feelings of isolation.

By understanding and addressing these impacts, families can better navigate the transition from military to civilian life and foster a supportive and healthy environment for all members.

For more resources, veterans and their families can visit the Veterans Affairs and the Veteran Crisis Line.

FAQs

What is the suicide rate amongst veterans?

The suicide rate among veterans remains a significant concern. According to the latest available data from 2021, an average of 17.5 veterans died by suicide each day, which amounts to a total of 6,392 veteran suicides for that year. This represents an increase from the previous year, highlighting the ongoing mental health challenges faced by this population​ (VA.gov | Veterans Affairs)​​ (MedCity News)​.

Veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide compared to non-veteran adults. The age-adjusted suicide rate among female veterans increased by 24.1% from 2020 to 2021, which is notably higher than the rate of increase among male veterans​ (VA.gov | Veterans Affairs)​​ (AFSP)​. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2023/2023-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-508.pdf

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recognized the severity of this issue and is working on several initiatives to address it. These efforts include partnerships with health systems to improve access to care, the incorporation of the Veteran Crisis Line into the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and the introduction of new policies to provide free care for veterans in acute suicidal crises​ (MedCity News)​.

For more detailed information, you can access the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report (va.gov)

What can we do to support veterans who are contemplating suicide?

To help veterans who are contemplating suicide, a multifaceted approach that includes immediate support, access to mental health care, community involvement, and policy changes is crucial.

Here are several key actions:

Immediate Support and Crisis Intervention:

Veteran Crisis Line: Veterans in crisis can contact the Veteran Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or chatting online. This service provides immediate assistance and connects veterans with trained professionals.

Peer Support: Initiatives like the VA’s partnership with Inner world and Even Health offer virtual reality-based peer support care, connecting veterans with others who have shared experiences​ (MedCity News)​. Veteran Suicide Statistics Are Horrifying — What Is the VA Doing to Help? – MedCity News

Access to Mental Health Care:

Timely and Effective Care: Ensuring that veterans have timely access to evidence-based mental health care is critical. This includes reducing wait times, providing transportation assistance, and clarifying healthcare benefits​ (Mission Roll Call)​. The State of Veteran Suicide (2024) (missionrollcall.org)

Expansion of Services: Programs like the VA’s policy to provide free care for any veteran in an acute suicidal crisis for 30 days, regardless of their enrollment status with the VA, help ensure that those in immediate need can access care​ (MedCity News)​. Veteran Suicide Statistics Are Horrifying — What Is the VA Doing to Help? – MedCity News

Community and Family Involvement:

Education and Awareness: Families and communities can play a significant role by learning the signs of suicide risk and knowing how to respond. Warning signs include changes in behavior, mood swings, angry outbursts, or loss of interest in activities​ (Mission Roll Call)​​ (MedCity News)​.

Support Networks: Encouraging veterans to build and maintain strong support networks can provide a buffer against suicidal thoughts. Community programs and peer support groups are effective in this regard​ (MedCity News)​. Veteran Suicide Statistics Are Horrifying — What Is the VA Doing to Help? – MedCity News

Policy and Legislative Actions:

Supportive Legislation: Advocating for and supporting legislation like the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach (CVSO) Act, which provides funding for veteran service officers, and the CAREERS Act, which helps the VA hire and retain mental health professionals, is essential​ (AFSP)​. 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report Intensifies the Call for Continued Efforts to Improve Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (afsp.org)

Transition Assistance:

Improving transition assistance programs for service members leaving the military can help them adjust to civilian life, reducing stress and potential mental health issues​ (Mission Roll Call)​. The State of Veteran Suicide (2024) (missionrollcall.org)

Research and Innovation:

Innovative Treatments: The VA is conducting clinical trials on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, such as MDMA and psilocybin, to explore their effectiveness in treating PTSD and other mental health issues. These trials could offer new avenues for treatment if approved by the FDA​ (MedCity News)​. Veteran Suicide Statistics Are Horrifying — What Is the VA Doing to Help? – MedCity News

By combining immediate crisis intervention, access to quality mental health care, community involvement, supportive policies, and innovative treatments, we can better support veterans and reduce the risk of suicide. For more resources and information, veterans and their families can visit Veterans Crisis Line and the VA Mental Health page.

What are the most common issues veterans have when transitioning out of the military?

Transitioning out of the military can be a challenging process for veterans, and several common issues can arise during this period:

Employment and Career Challenges:

Finding Civilian Jobs: Veterans often struggle to translate their military skills and experiences into civilian job qualifications. Many employers may not fully understand the value of military experience, leading to difficulties in securing employment​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Job Satisfaction: Even when veterans find jobs, they may face challenges in finding roles that provide the same level of purpose and fulfillment they experienced in the military​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Mental Health Issues:

PTSD and Depression: Many veterans experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and other mental health issues as a result of their service. These conditions can complicate the transition process and impact daily functioning​ (Mission Roll Call)​​ (MedCity News)​.

Access to Mental Health Care: Barriers to accessing mental health care, such as long wait times, stigma, and a lack of culturally competent providers, can prevent veterans from getting the help they need​ (MedCity News)​.

Physical Health Problems:

Injuries and Disabilities: Veterans may have sustained injuries or developed chronic conditions during their service. Navigating the healthcare system and managing these conditions can be a significant challenge​ (MedCity News)​.

Substance Abuse: Some veterans may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with physical pain or mental health issues, leading to substance abuse problems​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Financial and Housing Instability:

Financial Stress: Transitioning out of the military can lead to financial instability, especially if veterans are unable to find stable employment quickly. This can result in issues like debt and difficulty in managing expenses​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Housing: Some veterans face homelessness or housing instability, often due to a combination of financial difficulties, mental health issues, and lack of support networks​ (MedCity News)​.

Social and Relationship Issues:

Loss of Camaraderie: Veterans often miss the close-knit community and camaraderie they experienced in the military. This loss can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Family Strain: The transition can put a strain on family relationships, as both veterans and their families adjust to new roles and dynamics in civilian life​ (MedCity News)​.

Navigating Bureaucracy and Benefits:

Understanding Benefits: Veterans may find it difficult to navigate the complex system of benefits available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other organizations. This can result in missed opportunities for support​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Paperwork and Red Tape: The administrative burden of applying for benefits and services can be overwhelming, especially for those dealing with other transition-related challenges​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach that includes targeted support services, policy changes, community involvement, and efforts to reduce stigma around seeking help. For more detailed information and resources, veterans can visit organizations such as the Veterans Affairs and the Veteran Crisis Line.

How does the transition of veterans from the military to the civilian world affect family members?

The transition of veterans from military to civilian life has profound effects on family members, impacting various aspects of family dynamics and individual well-being.

Here are some common ways this transition can affect families:

Emotional and Psychological Impact

Stress and Anxiety: Family members often experience increased stress and anxiety as they adjust to new routines and roles. The uncertainty and changes in the family structure can be overwhelming​ (Mission Roll Call)​​ (MedCity News)​.

Mental Health Challenges: The mental health issues faced by veterans, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, can also affect their families. Spouses and children may struggle with feelings of helplessness, frustration, and sadness as they cope with the veteran’s symptoms​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Relationship Strain

Communication Issues: Changes in communication patterns can arise as veterans and their families adjust to civilian life. Veterans may have difficulty expressing their experiences and emotions, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts​ (Mission Roll Call)​​ (MedCity News)​.

Marital Strain: The shift in roles and responsibilities can strain marriages. Spouses may feel burdened by additional responsibilities, and veterans might struggle with their new roles at home. This can lead to increased marital tension and, in some cases, divorce​ (MedCity News)​.

Social and Behavioral Changes:

Isolation: Veterans might feel disconnected from civilian life, leading to social isolation. This isolation can extend to family members, who may also feel cut off from their social support networks as they focus on supporting the veteran​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Behavioral Changes: Veterans may exhibit changes in behavior, such as irritability, anger, or withdrawal, which can impact family harmony. Children, in particular, may find it difficult to understand these changes, leading to behavioral issues of their own​ (Mission Roll Call)​​ (MedCity News)​.

Financial and Economic Impact

Financial Stress: The transition can bring financial uncertainty, especially if the veteran faces difficulties finding stable employment. This financial stress can strain family resources and lead to anxiety and conflict over finances​ (Mission Roll Call)​.

Employment Challenges: Spouses may need to adjust their careers or take on additional work to compensate for the financial instability. This can lead to increased stress and less time available to support the veteran and other family members​ (Mission Roll Call)​​ (MedCity News)​.