Mental Disorders In Veterans Essay

When on deployment, the soldier could spend several months away from their homes and families. Because of this, mental illness usually emerges. In fact, “AR soldiers who deployed multiple (two or more) times were significantly more likely than those who deployed once to screen positive for depression and alcohol concerns” (“Impact of Deployment”). Among symptoms of PTSD, depression and alcoholism are also present in many soldiers after deployment. Another study concludes that, “11% to 17% of combat veterans are at risk for mental disorders in 3 to 4 months after return from combat duty” (“Impact of Deployment”).

Accidents such as HIPAA breaches, patient falls, MRI projectiles, overexposure, bruising patients, and personal exposure to gamma rays are all preventable “faux pas” that are more prevalent than one would think. All it takes is the radiographer paying as much attention as possible and being more aware of surroundings and situations. In the past five years, there have been at least two major HIPAA breaches in the United States that stem from radiology departments. One major breach, according to Erin McCann of HealthcareITNews, put 17,300 patients’ medical information at risk in March 2013. Raleigh Orthopedic Clinic contracted a third-party vendor to transfer old x-ray films into electronic images.

Approximately 200,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have filed for disability claims, straining VA resources. The VA 's inability to handle the number of returning veterans has been publicized by investigations into the conditions at the military 's Walter Reed Hospital. The Washington Post newspaper published several investigative articles that revealed overcrowded hospital wards, deteriorating buildings, and significant administrative barriers for veterans seeking care. Veterans and soldiers were required to file twenty-two documents to eight different departments in order to receive care. Veterans who were attempting to receive continuing care after

This is especially true for those who have seen combat. In soldiers returning from Iraq the rates of mental health symptoms were 20% for PTSD, 18% for anxiety, and 15% for depression. It is of utmost importance, given the popularity of mental health issues among veterans, to advocate the treatment and diagnosis of such illnesses in returning veterans. The problem is that many of said veterans to not seek the treatment that would possibly help them cope with what they saw in war. As stated by the theory of planned behavior, decisions can be traced to a person’s beliefs about that behavior.

An estimated 12% of nurses leave nursing annually because of back injuries and more than half complain of chronic back pain. As a future nurse, this is startling and makes me apprehensive to work in a hospital environment with patient care, breaking my back was not part of my job description (www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ osh2_11082012.htm.) According to the American Nurse Association thirty-five years of research show that training alone is not effective. There is also little evidence that gait belts are effective. It is also a complete myth that just because a nurse is physically fit, they are less

Veterans and active-duty members are considerably diverse in individual characteristics and life histories. Veterans refer to retired or discharge military population. Some suggest programs implemented are addressing too broad of a population and should be focused on specific veteran populations. Many veterans develop self- stigma, internalizing the negative beliefs society places on this population, and avoid seeking help. "Each of the military services and the Veterans Administration (VA) have developed educational campaigns to reduce the stigma associated with reporting emotional distress, raise awareness of the risk of suicide, and teach military personnel, veterans, and their family’s suicide prevention strategies (Brenner & Barnes, 2012)."

The United States averages a major war or conflict every twenty years. Wars involve pain, suffering, injuries and death to both conflicting parties. Soldiers and Marines often return home with lost limbs, physical scars, and strained due to prolonged and repeated combat deployments. There is, however, another kind of suffering that has been prevalent in soldiers since the start of war: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is an invisible illness that affects a person’s mental state after being exposed to a traumatic or near fatal incident.

Pride is a feeling that many military service members feel when they put on their uniform everyday. Those dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the stigma that comes with it tend to feel vulnerable. Some of the issues suffered by Veterans with PTSD include, mental health, depression, anger management, and substance abuse issues. Stigma is problematic, the feeling of judgment causes many service members to not seek the treatment they need, this can lead to suicide. With an increase in deployments due to both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Veterans were returning home with both physical and mental issues.

Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that repeated stress of abuse, neglect and having parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This happens across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease as well as lung cancer. There has been an impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on. I feel that Dr. Harris used control groups to form her research due to 17,500 adults were asked about their history of exposure to what they called "adverse childhood experiences," or ACEs. Those did include physical, emotional, sexual abuse; physical

Emotions are also bound to rush. Families become torn between the decision. But after deciding, they also help themselves from the constant pity and feeling sadness from seeing the patient. Emotions influence mental health. “Psychological factors that cause people to think of euthanasia include depression” (BBC- ethics-euthanasia: Ethics…, 2014).

Second, 47,725 veterans are homeless according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Why so many homeless? It wasn 't until the 80 's that they started to find mental changes some severe mental changes after seeing the horror of war. Each scene plays out in their head known as post traumatic stress disorder or also know as PTSD causing it hard to function at work or in public traumatic brain injury, know as TBI, ties in with with PTSD. How does this affect the homelessness rates of veterans, as statics show and according to VA General inspector mental trauma is the cause for over 50 percent of the homelessness among veterans.