Service has an impact on every veteran. Most of them reintegrate into civilian life after the war with little trouble. However, a sizable portion—44% of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, per one survey—state that they had difficulty adjusting to life back home. They may have health concerns and employment difficulties in the years following their service. As if that is not enough, many struggle with access to benefits.

What kind of challenges do veterans face when they get back?

A high percentage of veterans experience different health issues. A large percentage of veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan have traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Almost one in 1 in 5 of them has a mild TBI (concussion).

Other prevalent health issues in veterans include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, problematic alcohol use, and suicidal thoughts. Most of them deal with sexual trauma, such as harassment and assault experienced during service. It may have an impact on one’s physical and mental health.

Are veterans receiving the support they require?

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which serves a large number of veterans, offers treatment comparable to, if not superior to, that of private or non-VHA public practitioners in many aspects. However, there are differences in the public system’s service quality and accessibility.

For instance, numerous studies have revealed that a substantial portion of veterans who are diagnosed with mental health disorders do not receive any therapy. Many veterans are uninformed that mental health care benefits are available, are dubious of their eligibility, or are not sure how to apply for veterans’ mental health care benefits. This is where wounded veterans charitable organizations come in to offer additional support.

What other obstacles do they face?

Other obstacles that veterans have mentioned preventing them from utilizing VHA medical services include:

• Difficulties accessing medical facilities due to their remote locations or lack of transportation
• Worries of skipping work and jeopardizing their careers
• Fear that discrimination (caused by the stigma associated with mental health issues) may result in losing their children’s custody or contact
• Difficulty traveling due to disabilities and other medical conditions.

What about concerns that are not connected to health?

Aside from physical issues, some ex-service members face additional difficulty readjusting to civilian life, such as social or economic obstacles. For instance, veterans who served after September 11, 2001, occasionally have unemployment rates that are nearly twice as high as those of non-veterans of a similar age.

However, there is a dearth of information and studies to evaluate the effects of deployment on military service personnel and their families’ social, economic, and health. This makes it challenging to pinpoint exactly what they need.

A number of government departments and agencies gather information about the physical, psychological, social, and economic difficulties that veterans face. However, there isn’t a database that integrates demographic and deployment data with information about health outcomes, access to care, treatment, and employment prior to and following deployment. Many problems regarding the reintegration of veterans into civilian life could be addressed if this data were linked and integrated.

How do we ensure that veterans receive quality medical care?

There are several approaches, such as:

• Healthcare providers should undergo ongoing education and have their treatment plans periodically reviewed in order to guarantee that veterans are receiving high-quality, evidence-based care. Patients might not obtain high-quality care if physicians don’t base their decisions on scientific facts.
• All medical professionals serving veterans should utilize an electronic health record that is intended to be “interoperable,” meaning it can transmit data between various systems.
• Improved coordination and communication between the numerous public and private initiatives, such as the Wounded Warriors Family Support, that support veterans and their families.

Concluding thoughts

As much as the VHA provides healthcare support, we should also support charity programs for veterans to ensure they get the much-needed help.