Mental Illnesses In The Military

Military and Mental Illnesses

In today’s society, it is nearly impossible to discredit the support, assistance, and roles that men and women in America have taken on and their contributions to protecting America throughout history which they continue to do today. More than ever, the population of the Armed Forces is constantly expanding and increasing daily is within the modern United States Military. However, over 2 million Americans have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade and increasing numbers are returning home with complex mental and behavioral health challenges (American Psychological Association [APA], 2009).

Due to the increasing numbers of men and women in the military, it has become imperative that the American

Numerous studies have shown that not only are these people more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, but also other sex-related traumas and harassments that take place within their quarters. “Women in the military are at high risk for exposure to traumatic events, especially during times of war. Currently, about 15% of all military personnel in Iraq are women. Although men are more likely to experience combat, a growing number of women are now being exposed to combat. Women in the military are at higher risk for exposure to sexual harassment or sexual assault than men. Future studies are needed to better understand the effects of women's exposure to both combat and sexual assault” (PTSD: National Center of PTSD, 2007). Within these past recent years, a growing number of men and women alike have been speaking out as victims of Military Sexual Trauma, also referred to as MST. “Military Sexual Trauma is a psychological trauma, which in the judgment of a VA mental health professional, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment, which occurred while the Veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training” (Military Sexual Assault and Trauma, 2011). This is an issue that

(2018, February 07). From fellow soldier to 'monster' in uniform: #MeToo in the military. Retrieved February 15, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/07/politics/us-military-sexual-assault-investigations/index.html Military Sexual Assault. (2018). Retrieved February 15, 2018, from http://www.bwjp.org/our-work/topics/military-sexual-assult.html

Military Sexual Assault and Trauma. (2011). Retrieved February 15, 2018, from http://www.silverliningvillages.org/military-sexual-trauma?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1tiy7L6o2QIV0zuBCh1sggI-EAAYASAAEgLvkvD_BwE

Munsey, C. (2009, September). Women and war. Retrieved February, 2018, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/09/women-war.aspx

Owens, E. (2017, May 1). Can Combat Wound Your Soul? Retrieved February 15, 2018, from https://thewarriorsjourney.org/challenges/can-combat-wound-soul/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1sKNwrqo2QIVBI_ICh2hKQtGEAAYBCAAEgLN2fD_BwE

PTSD: National Center for PTSD. (2007, January 01). Retrieved February 15, 2018, from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/women/women-trauma-and-ptsd.asp

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). (2017, October 25). Retrieved February 15, 2018, from