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By Dr. Kristin Horan, The Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services Research Kennesaw State University
May was named Mental Health Awareness Month in 1949. It’s an important time to focus on mental health. Your mental health influences how you think, feel, and act. It is vital for your overall well-being. About one in five Americans will face a mental health challenge each year. Nearly half of all Americans will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives.
Improving mental health is crucial for military service members and veterans. They can encounter high levels of stress, face mental health challenges, and struggle to get support.
Military and Veteran Stress
Many military members and veterans go through tough situations, related to the military or other aspects of their life. In a study from 2006, all the veterans asked reported going through at least one tough event in their life. Eighty-four percent had been through three or more.
Bottom Line: Think about how the things you went through before, during, or after your time in the military might affect your mental health.
Military and Veteran Mental Health Diagnoses
Service members and veterans are more likely to experience mental health concerns than civilians. For example, they're 15 times more likely to have PTSD and 5 times more likely to have depression. But different groups of service members could be more at risk for certain concerns. Our research at the Center for the Advancement of Military and Emergency Services Research has identified patterns in common issues among different groups of service members and veterans.
Women in the military were less likely to have alcohol use disorder (AUD) but more likely to have PTSD and anxiety.
Younger service members (20-24 years old) have high rates of AUD, while older service members (over 35) have higher rates of PTSD, migraines, sleep disorders, and anxiety.
Postpartum depression is a significant concern, especially for service members over the age of 25.
Married service members have lower rates of AUD.
Officers have lower rates of all these conditions, which may indicate they are less likely to seek care
Army members have higher rates, while Navy and Marine Corps members have lower rates of most of these conditions.
Bottom Line: Recognizing these patterns can help us provide more support to specific groups and help medical specialists to better serve veterans.
Military and Veteran Mental Health Treatment
Service members and veterans often don't seek mental health help like civilians do, and there are a few reasons why. They might not realize they have a problem, feel ashamed to ask for help, or face difficulties getting treatment. Research conducted by the AMES Research Center has shown that social support and connecting with others is one of the largest factors affecting veterans’ health.
Bottom Line: Pay attention to noticeable changes in feelings, eating habits, sleep, or use of drugs or alcohol. It is brave to ask for help or encourage others to ask for help. Billions of dollars have been spent in the past 20 years to create and improve mental health solutions. There is one that is a good fit for you. When in doubt, exercise, get outdoors, or volunteer for a cause you care about.
Military and Veterans Resilience
Veterans are often stereotyped as being “damaged” or “broken.” The reality is that service members and veterans can overcome challenges with resilience. Resilience can be trained and helps protect everyone from the impacts of trauma and daily stress. Our research shows that veterans are uniquely able to adapt to negative situations and are more resilient when they recognize that negative experiences are a normal part of life and often pass quickly. Service members and veterans should always pay attention to their responses to stress and make sure that they fit with personal goals and values. This will increase their ability to cope with and adjust to negative life events.
Bottom Line: Think about your values and life goals. Seek help, and meaningfully connect with others.
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