More than 75 percent of wounded veterans are battling post-traumatic stress (PTS), according to the Wounded Warrior Project’s 2015 Alumni Survey.
PTS and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are two of the biggest mental health issues facing veterans today. The organization estimates that over 400,000 veterans suffer from PTS while around 320,000 are dealing with TBI.
The Wounded Warrior Project’s survey of 23,000 veterans is described as “the largest collection of data on this generation of injured veterans ever collected.” The annual survey asked wounded veterans about their combat experiences, mental and physical health and challenges in transitioning to civilian life.
The survey also revealed some truths about the lack of adequate health care for former service members. Thirty-five percent of veterans reported facing problems in accessing the mental health care they needed. The same number of veterans also said they had difficulty scheduling appointments with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2014, the agency was involved in a scandal in which dozens of veterans died while waiting for treatment at the VA hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Our annual survey shows that this generation of injured veterans continues to struggle with the invisible wounds of war, including PTSD and TBI, and the challenges are not getting better with time,” said Wounded Warrior Project CEO Steve Nardizzi.
The organization is launching its $100-million Warrior Care Network in early 2016. The program seeks to provide improved mental health care for injured veterans by connecting four medical centers across the United States.
Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800
