Veterans with Mental Illness
Veterans with mental illness may suffer from a number of disorders because of their exposure to trauma while serving. Whether a traumatic event occurred in combat or during training, the extreme stress a veteran faces while serving can lead to mental illness.
If you are a veteran in crisis, call 911, visit your nearest emergency room or call the 24/7 Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.
To learn about disability claims stemming from mental illness, visit our Mental Illness & Psychiatric Disability Claims section of the website.
Screening for Mental Illness
If you are wondering if you are suffering from a mental illness, or if someone you care about seems to be displaying behavior consistent with a mental disorder, the VA offers screening tools to help assess the condition.
Some of the most common forms of mental illness in veterans are depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia. Substance abuse is another potentially damaging condition that mentally ill veterans face.
Use the VA’s Depression Screening Tool or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screening Tool to evaluate your condition.
Signs of Mental Illness
Mentally ill vets may be struggling with anger issues or trying to cope with a traumatic event, like sexual abuse or the loss of a person close to them in combat.
Take note if you or a loved one is exhibiting any of the following signs of mental illness:
- Change in normal appetite
- Constant sadness
- Difficulty remembering things, making decisions or thinking clearly
- Doing things that are later regretted
- Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
- Flashbacks
- Irritability or intense outbursts of anger
- Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed
- Loss of interest in daily life
- Racing thoughts
- Taking dangerous or uncharacteristic risks
A new Washington-Kaiser Post Family Foundation Poll of returning Iraq and Afghanistan service members found that:
- 31% say their mental and emotional health is poorer now than before they were deployed
- Of those veterans who describe their health as “worse,” 36% say they experience outbursts of anger; overall, 15% of respondents experience these outbursts
- 32% of veterans with “worse” health do not feel that their mental healthcare needs are being met
Don’t hesitate to intervene if you believe someone you care about may be struggling with mental illness. If you are a veteran in need of help, reach out today.
Contact Vets National Advocates for Help
Coping with a mental illness takes support. If you are suffering as a result of a service-connected disability, Vets National Advocates is here to help. Learn more about recovering disability compensation for your mental illness by visiting the site’s section on Mental Illness & Psychiatric Disability Claims.
You shouldn’t suffer a service-connected mental illness without the benefits you’ve earned.
If you would like help with your veterans disability claim, contact us online now or call 1 (877) 777-4021.
