Issues Facing Combat Veterans. Agenda Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP) Population Description...
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Transcript of Issues Facing Combat Veterans. Agenda Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP) Population Description...
Issues Facing Combat Veterans
Agenda
• Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP)• Population Description– Paradox of Coming Home– Traumatic Brain Injury– Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Suggestions for Working with Combat Veterans
• Resources
VirginiaWounded
WarriorProgram
The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP), in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, monitors and coordinates behavioral health and rehabilitative services and support through an integrated, comprehensive and responsive system of public and private partnerships. VWWP facilitates these services for Virginia veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves (not in active federal service), and their families affected by stress related conditions or traumatic brain injuries resulting from military service.
Albemarle
AmeliaAppo-mattox
Brunswick
Buckingham
Campbell
Caroline
Charlotte
Chesterfield
Clarke
Culpeper
Dinwiddie
Fairfax
Fauquier
Fluvanna
Frederick
Goochland
Greene
Greensville
Halifax
Hanover
Loudoun
Louisa
Lunenburg
Madison
Mecklenburg
Nottoway
Orange
Page
Pittsylvania
Powhatan
PrinceEdward
Rappa-hannock
Shenan
doah
Spotsylvania
Stafford
Warren
Prince William
Acco
mac
k
Essex
Gloucester
Henrico
Isle Of Wight
KingGeorge
King William Lancaster
Middlesex
New Kent
Nort
ham
pton
Northumberland
Prince George
Richmond
Southampton
Surry
Sussex
Westmoreland
Chesapeake
Norfolk
Portsmouth
Suffolk
Virginia Beach
Amherst
Augusta
Nelson
Rockingham
Alleghany
Bath
Bedford
Bland
Botetourt
Buchanan
Carroll
Craig
Dickenson
FloydFranklin
Giles
GraysonHenry
Highland
Lee
Mont-gomery
Patrick
Pulaski
Roanoke
Russell
Scott
Smyth
Tazewell
Washington
Wise Wythe
Newport
Alexandria
Lynchburg
Richmond
King & Queen
Rockbridge
Hampton
James
CharlesCity Co.
Cum
berla
nd
News
York
Matthews
Arlington
Charlottesville
Our Military Population• Approx. 1.5 million Active Duty Service Members• More than half of these are 25 yrs. old or younger• More than half are married and/or have children• 100,000 are single parents
• 888,000 National Guard and Reserve Members• One third are 25 yrs. old or younger• 60% are married and/or have children• 28% are single parents• 30,000 are dual military couples
Our Veteran Population
• 21.9 million veterans in the US• 1.5 million are females• 9 million are 65 years or older• 28% of all Americans who die each year are
veterans (each month 73,000 WWII, Korea and Vietnam Veterans die)
• 823,348 veterans reside in Virginia
Current Conflicts • 30,852 U.S. service members wounded in hostile action
since the beginning of U.S. military operations in OIF and over 6,300 service members have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Approximately 2.3 million service members have deployed in OIF/OEF/OND since 9/11/2001
• Approximately 600,000 National Guard and Reservists have deployed since the beginning of U.S. military operations in Iraq
Everyone is changed by war
The Paradox of Coming Home
• Combat Zone Responses helped the soldier remain alert, safe and ready
• Challenge is to modify these responses for the transition back to civilian life
The process of moving from this….
To This:
Common Transition/Adjustment Responses
• Feeling irritable or jumpy• Becoming easily annoyed or frustrated• Feeling numb• Feeling disconnected from friends and family• Experiencing sadness or guilt
Common and Normal Transition Responses
• Sleeping too much or too little• Being uncomfortable with physical or
emotional intimacy• Having intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or
nightmares• Having trouble concentrating or remembering
Traumatic Brain Injuries
• 28% of all OIF/OEF Troops have been exposed to blasts
• Signature wound of these conflicts
• Most common- Closed- caused by changes in pressure that cause concussions and contusions. May not exhibit physical wound and therefore go unrecognized
• Many overlapping symptoms between TBI and PTSD:
FATIGUE IRRITABILITY INSOMNIA
COGNITIVE DEFICITS MEMORY PROBLEMS ANGER
FRUSTRATION DEPRESSION
PTSD Symptoms CriteriaStressor Criterion
• Re-experiencing: flashbacks, night-mares, distressing recollections
• Avoidance: anything reminding one of the past, detachment, loss of interest
• Arousal: hyper-vigilance, startle response, concentration problems, sleep problems, anger
Common Coping Strategies for Veterans with Combat Stress, TBI, and PTSD
• Alcohol abuse• Weapons as security• Isolation• Yelling, anger, outbursts• Motorcycles/Cars—speed• Overspending• Suicide – approx 6,500 Veterans / year
Throwing the Lifeline: Strategies for Helping
Link veteran with other combat veterans *support and networking groups *VWWP, WWP, VFW, AL
Help veteran think about setting new career goals (perhaps based on MOS)
Help veteran connect to appropriate resources
Suggestions for Working with Combat Veterans
If needed reassure the veteran/service member that they are home (particularly helpful in crisis settings)
Show respect and appreciation for their military service
Do not share your personal views on war or politics
Connect the veteran/service member with other veterans-help them develop a peer support network
Suggestions (cont)
Avoid use of labeling (“you must have PTSD”)
Do not say you understand what they have experienced unless you have experienced combat yourself
Involve the veterans primary support system
Long term- recognize importance in discussing grief and survivors guilt and the impact of experiences on the veteran’s spirituality and belief system
Refer to other professionals as appropriate
Resources
• Virginia Wounded Warrior Program: www.wearevirginiaveterans.org
• Center for Deployment Psychology : www.deploymentpsych.org
• National Center for PTSD : www.ptsd.va.gov
• Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center: www.DVBIC.org
• National Resource Directory for Wounded Warriors, Veterans and Service Members : www.nationalresourcedirectory.org
Our community, our strength!