Due to increased exposure to stressful and potentially harmful situations, veterans and active military personnel are at greater risk of suffering from challenges relating to mental health. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “more than 1.7 million veterans received treatment in a VA mental health specialty program in the fiscal year 2018.” This is especially concerning due to the fact that not all veterans with mental health challenges receive care, whether by choice or due to lack of resources. Therefore, the number of veterans who would benefit from mental health treatment is likely much greater.
A 2018 report found that many veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (particularly female veterans), were not receiving much needed mental health treatment. It was assessed that this was largely due to a combination of a lack of sufficient resources, and a lack of transparency and consistency in how veterans can pursue treatment. In short, there are significant gaps in treatment options, and the options that do exist are often difficult to navigate.
Furthermore, it is thought that many veterans do not pursue care due to stigmas relating to mental health treatment. As such, it may be helpful for veterans and active military personnel to be aware of alternative and complementary treatment options for mental illness.
