Veterans and Military Services
Approximately 20 percent of American adults will experience a mental health issue in a given year.
One of those issues is post-traumatic stress disorder, which often affects veterans. In 2011, the first lady, Michelle Obama, teamed up with Jill Biden to launch Joining Forces, which addresses mental health care for military members and their families.
“I kept meeting service members and military spouses who were hesitant to ask for help because they thought they should be able to handle it themselves or that seeking help meant they were weak or broken,” she told Prevention. “But of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Our service members, veterans, and their families are some of the most courageous, resilient folks I have ever met, and asking for help is always a sign of strength,” she continued.
Tele Mental Health
It’s estimated that 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom experience PTSD. That number increases exponentially when you include those who served in previous wars. Yet many former military members don’t get the support they need. Approximately 20 to 22 veterans die by suicide every day. There’s often a waiting list for beds in treatment centers, potentially hurting people at risk for self-harm. But some don’t even seek help at all for fear of looking “weak” in a field where you’re supposed to be “strong. “
Family360 counseling and supportive service programs for adult men and women were developed to work with individuals with a history of homelessness, chemical dependency, and varying degrees of mental health and or behavioral health issues. Family360’s contract with the VA enables us to provide various services to Veterans at our offices or via Tele Mental Health. The Family360 Move ON Veterans’ Mobile Care Coordination Team (VMCCT) provides veterans outreach, case management, and advocacy. The team comprises master’s level clinical social workers with years of service experience and vast knowledge of the local and national continuum.
Military experiences are distinct from civilian experiences. Research shows that veterans and their families benefit from support as they reintegrate into civilian society, particularly forming community connections, transitioning successfully into the civilian world and workplace, ensuring economic security, and maintaining health and wellness. And during an individual’s active duty, their family may struggle with high rates of mobility and separation, low levels of spousal employment, financial instability, and difficulty accessing adequate childcare due to the military lifestyle.