It has been said that “war is hell” — and for too many Veterans, hell doesn’t go away when deployment ends. Large numbers of Veterans continue to seek care for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues that have long been common among those who serve in our nation’s military forces.
Although anyone can suffer from PTSD, rates among Veterans are higher than rates among non-Veterans. In earlier times it was known as “shell shock” or “combat fatigue.” Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines PTSD as “a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances.” Veterans are statistically more likely to have experienced a traumatic event, which does not have to involve deployment in a war zone. A training accident or military sexual trauma, for example, could also lead to PTSD.
Mental health professionals are familiar with PTSD symptoms such as depression, anxiety, tension, irritability, being easily startled, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, flashbacks, and survivor’s guilt. Such issues can wreak havoc on a Veteran’s physical and mental health, family and other relationships, work, finances, and more. Too often, they manifest themselves in substance use disorder, self-harm, or suicide. Only in 1980, five years after the end of the Vietnam War, did the APA officially adopt PTSD as a diagnostic category. Three years later, VA answered a call from Congress to conduct the first-ever study of the prevalence of PTSD among Veterans. This study, which found that as many as 15% of Veterans had PTSD, put an overdue spotlight on the issue. Now, with expanded access to mental health services, Veterans can more readily seek care for PTSD — and have it paid for.
Veterans also exhibit higher rates of self-injury mortality — a category that includes overdoses of alcohol, opioids and other drugs — and other self-harm.
While large numbers of Veterans and their families are still turning to the VA system for their PTSD-related care, increasing numbers are looking elsewhere. In either case, opportunities abound for providers to develop innovative ways to overcome barriers to care. PTSD is treatable. The earlier a person gets treatment, the better the chances of recovery. Community care providers must prepare for their growing role in meeting these challenges.
Barriers to Care
The number of Veterans nationwide totaled 16.5 million in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But only about 9 million are enrolled to receive healthcare services from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Additionally, data from the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research indicates that less than half of the Veterans who need mental health services receive treatment, and less than one-third of those receive appropriate, evidence-based care.
Barriers to care for Veterans with PTSD include:
- Challenges navigating the complex VA healthcare system. These difficulties can be further complicated for Veterans struggling to make the transition from military to civilian life, with obligations such as finding suitable employment and housing.
- Lack of awareness. Many Veterans do not understand the benefits to which they are entitled, especially mental health.
- Reluctance to seek treatment. Veterans may be in denial about their condition or convinced it will pass. Having been trained to be strong in the face of danger, they may avoid treatment out of pride, stubbornness, fear, embarrassment, or concerns about stigma.
- Inadequate mental health support. Nearby facilities may not offer the type of care a Veteran needs to deal with their issues.
- Long wait times. Waiting for an appointment or at a VA facility can be a frustrating deterrent.
- Access issues. Rural areas, in particular, often lack sufficient care options. VA facilities may be limited, or there can be a lack of providers specializing in Veteran care.
- A lack of trust. Many Veterans feel neglected by the system that they believed would take care of them. Mental health issues can exacerbate this lack of trust.
What Veterans With PTSD Need … and What Community Providers Can Do
PTSD treatments cited by the APA range from various types of cognitive behavioral therapy to medication to alternative therapies including acupuncture, yoga, and animal-assisted therapy.
Beyond that, Veterans with PTSD need emotional support. That includes recognition of their service and acknowledgment of their condition as resulting from their service. Many are desperate to be treated with understanding and a lack of judgment, and they want to know that, whatever they are going through, they are not alone.
The 2018 passage of the MISSION Act has expanded Veterans’ access to healthcare, including mental health services. At the same time, it has created greater challenges for hospitals serving as Community Care Network Providers. The increase in Veterans seeking both physical and mental health services at non-VA facilities has given these providers a larger role while adding to the strain on their finite resources.
Education — of Veterans as well as those who are caring for them —is central to the solution. Veterans with PTSD can benefit from guidance in multiple areas: how to navigate the complexities of the VA system, understanding the scope of their mental health benefits, overcoming their reluctance to seek treatment, connecting with the appropriate providers, restoring their own trust in the system.
As for the providers, especially those who have not previously specialized in Veteran care, they must be equipped with the education, training (including military cultural competency training), skills, and tools they need to understand and serve this uniquely vulnerable population.
Caring for Veterans is a calling. Dealing with the complexities of the VA, on the other hand, is an ongoing challenge that can distract you from what’s most important: the patients themselves. We have the expertise, technology, relationships, and commitment to take care of the complicated and distracting details, so you can care for this vulnerable population. Veterans deserve the best of care, and you deserve to get paid for this essential work.
Let EnableComp Help You
EnableComp’s VA experts see that you get paid, which is essential to your ongoing success. As your “department down the hall,” we offer the expertise, resources and infrastructure to help you navigate the VA landscape, including PTSD and other mental health issues. And that frees you up to provide the superior care, interactions, and experience that Veterans need and deserve.
Want to learn more? Schedule a consultation today.
