• As of September 2014, there are about 2.7 million American veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, compared to 2.6 million Vietnam veterans who fought in Vietnam; there are 8.2 million “Vietnam Era Veterans” (personnel who served anywhere during any time of the Vietnam War).
• According to RAND, at least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD and/or Depression.
• A comprehensive analysis, published in 2014, found that for PTSD: “Among male and female soldiers aged 18 years or older returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, rates range from 9% shortly after returning from deployment to 31% a year after deployment.
• PTSD is the third most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis among veterans.
• 50% of those with PTSD do not seek treatment.
• 19% of veterans may have traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Over 260,000 veterans having served in Iraq and Afghanistan so far have been diagnosed with TBI.
• 7% of veterans have both post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury
• Rates of post-traumatic stress are greater for these wars than prior conflicts
• Recent statistical studies show that rates of veteran suicide are much higher than previously thought, as much 22 a day, up from a low of 18 per year in 2007, based on a 2012 VA Suicide Data Report.

Rehab Recovery offers resources for veterans affected by addiction and mental health issues. Contact Rehab Recovery here.

From the article:

As many of you know, the initial charter and purpose of the Fund have broadened. The Fund now is proactive in assisting soldiers with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury); we are in partnership with Armstrong State University and Savannah Technical College by providing scholarships; and we continue to look for other areas where we can broaden our reach.

Read the full article at landings.org

The U.S. military is struggling to provide adequate therapy sessions for thousands of active-duty troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, a massive study released Thursday concludes.

The RAND Corp. study of 40,000 cases, the largest ever, found that only a third of troops with PTSD and less than a quarter who are clinically depressed receive the minimum number of therapy sessions after being diagnosed.

Read the full article at usatoday.com

Suicides in the U.S. military showed an increase over the summer months last year for active and reserve components compared to the same period in 2014, in a possible departure from a slight downward trend, the Defense Department reported Monday.

For the third quarter of 2015, including the months of July, August and September, the number of suicides recorded for the active duty military was 72, compared to 57 in the third quarter of 2014.

Read the full article at military.com

Tens of thousands of American combat veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with undiagnosed brain injuries often were “thrown into a canyon” — falling deeper into despair and sometimes flirting with suicide or addiction — before trying to get help, according to a Johns Hopkins University study.

Read the full article at triblive.com

Two national psychology organizations are planning to offer online courses on war-related trauma for psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers who treat military personnel and veterans.

The four-part series, hosted by the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis and the American Psychoanalytic Association, will focus on the history of understanding combat-related mental health conditions to give providers “valuable insight into the impact war has on the human mind,” said Dennis Shelby, a therapist and Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis faculty member.

Read the full article at militarytimes.com