FACTOIDS

 Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”) is a mental condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event – either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, feelings of detachment, difficulties concentrating, hyper- vigilance, severe anxiety, etc. – all involving involuntary uncontrollable reactions.  PTSD can be triggered in a moment – by a memory, an image, a sound, even a smell.  PTSD has been disproportionately associated with alcoholism, drug abuse, and domestic violence. Moreover, veterans with PTSD are 4-6 times more likely to be divorced, a single parent, or become homeless.  In the past year alone (2015-2016), it is estimated that the number of PTSD-diagnosed cases in the military jumped nearly 50%. Of 2.4 million veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, roughly 460,000 suffer from PTSD or major depression.  Of the 200,000 veterans who go homeless each night, 45% suffer from PTSD or mental illness.  One in five Iraq/Afghanistan combat veterans and more than one in four Vietnam veterans have either suffered or are currently suffering from PTSD. Plus 30% of all battlefield veterans are estimated to develop mental problems within four months of returning home.  At least 20 veterans commit PTSD-related suicides each day; more than 7,000 each year. Veterans now account for 20% of all U.S. suicides.  Iraq/Afghanistan veterans between the ages of 17 and 24 exhibit suicide rates four times higher than other veteran populations.  Only half of veterans who seek help receive even “minimally adequate” treatment.  Through 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs reports that more than $2 billion has been spent on treatment-related care of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans suffering from PTSD. First year treatment alone costs the government an average of $8,300 per person.

PTSD: The Cruel Facts

PTSD: The Cruel Facts

 PTSD is a mental condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event – either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, feelings of detachment, difficulties concentrating, hyper- vigilance, severe anxiety, etc. – all involving involuntary uncontrollable reactions.  PTSD can be triggered in a moment – by a memory, an image, a sound, even a smell.  PTSD has been disproportionately associated with alcoholism, drug abuse, and domestic violence. Moreover veterans with PTSD are 4-6 times more likely to be divorced, a single parent, or become homeless.  In the past year alone (2015-2016), the Veterans Administration estimates that the number of PTSD-diagnosed cases in the military jumped nearly 50%. Of the 2.4 million veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, approximately 460,000 suffer from PTSD or major depression.  Nearly one out of three veterans of the Vietnam War have suffered from PTSD.  Of the 200,000 veterans who go homeless each night, 45% suffer from PTSD or mental illness.  One in five combat veterans of our four most recent wars have either suffered or are currently suffering from PTSD. Plus 30% of all battlefield veterans are estimated to develop mental problems within 3-4 months of returning home.  At least 20 veterans commit PTSD-related suicides each day; more than 7,000 each year. Veterans now account for 20% of all U.S. suicides.  Iraq/Afghanistan veterans between the ages of 17 and 24 exhibit suicide rates four times higher than other veteran populations.  Only half of veterans who seek help receive even “minimally adequate” treatment.  Through 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs reports that more than $2 billion has been spent on treatment-related care of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans suffering from PTSD. First year treatment alone costs the government an average of $8,300 per person.