When it comes to mental health, the Veterans community is in crisis.
Research has shown that 4 in 10 Veterans need mental health care programs every year and 15% of military personnel who served in Iraq or Afghanistan experience post-traumatic stress each year.
Most alarmingly, suicide rates among Veterans are much higher than among the general population.
Help is available for Veterans struggling with their mental health. The VA offers mental health services for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST), depression, grief, anxiety, and other needs. More than 1.7 million Veterans received VA mental health services last year.
Those who need immediate help are urged to contact the Veterans Crisis Line anytime day or night:
- Call 988 and select 1.
- Start a confidential chat.
- Text 838255.
- For TTY, call 711 then 988.
To learn more about available VA mental health resources, call 877-222-8387. If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 800-877-8339.
Veterans can also care for their mental health by seeking out opportunities to connect with others and engage in positive activities. One option is Guitars for Veterans, which offers guitar lessons through the VSC Akron office, and connects dozens of local Veterans each year though music and friendship. To learn more, call (330) 643-2830.
One of the biggest barriers preventing Veterans from seeking help is the stigma mistakenly associated with seeking treatment. If you have sought help for your own mental health, speak up to your fellow Veterans.
The more we can normalize seeking help, the more lives we can save and improve.
