Management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Veteran Population.

Management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Veteran Population.

Management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Veteran Population.

Introduction

Veterans are individuals who have had the privilege to serve in the US army but have disengaged from service due to other reasonable factors other than dishonor. It is not a surprise to consider veterans as a vulnerable population. The tribulations of war either are traumatizing, making them subjects of brain damage, depression, or stress.

The Demographics of Veterans

According to (Schaeffer 2021), statistics from the Department of Veteran affairs show over 19 million US veterans as of 2021. the VA’s population model estimates of 2021 attribute that 89% veterans are male while 11% are women. Veterans are a marginalized population, and their needs and issues are sensitive due to post-war effects.

Challenges faced by the Veterans

The civilian life of veterans gets altered, and they find it difficult to fit into society. They tend to face disconnection between their families and friends due to their state of mind and the atrocities they underwent during their military service. The structure of life fails to find its way, making them deteriorate further.

Most veterans join the military after high school making them unsuitable for many jobs after disengagement. This renders most of them unemployed since they are less likely to get paying jobs that suit their needs. Veterans are used to big titles and respect, and after service that lose these titles, making them struggle with identity and self-esteem issues. According to (Montgomery et al. 2020), 30% of veterans are believed to be homeless since they cannot make enough money to pay for housing or have resorted to substance abuse and addiction.

During service, the veterans can have sustained injuries. Some may make them physically handicapped, making them unable to make a living anymore. Impairment makes them vulnerable to self-esteem and acceptance issues. The unique challenge that veterans face is mental issues due to stigmatization from traumatic events.

Veterans and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD occurs when an individual undergoes traumatic events. Veterans struggle with negative emotions hailing from past experiences. They find it difficult to live happily and are entangled by remorse, shame, and guilt dragging their lives into misery and tribulations. Veterans have killed and witnessed a mass loss of lives, and when they think about it, they get overwhelmed, making them vulnerable to PTSD. The horror of death and shedding of blood is intriguing and amusing.

Barriers to Healthcare and access to care for Veterans with PTSD.

Limited attention Has been paid regarding veterans’ way of life and experiences in the line of duty. One of the most prevalent barriers to care is stigma. According to (Brown and Bruce 2016), statistics show that half of the soldiers surveyed believe that the public negatively perceives veterans and renders them treated differently and blamed for their mental illnesses. Individuals accept public perception making them miserable and weak within themselves.

According to (Weber &Clark 2016), a sample of OIF/OEF veterans indicates that veterans could identify barriers to care such as alienation from specialized services, early intervention services, bureaucracy as an obstacle, and lack of information on the services available for them. The misconception that veterans receive full access to health care from the VA should be disengaged to identify issues faced by veterans easily. The VA has many limitations for the Veterans to access services, putting veterans’ health at risk.

The needs of marginalized veteran populations with PTSD have been given little attention. According to (Carlson et al. 2018), VA caregivers have a problem talking with ethnic veterans and offering them quality service. This makes ethnic veterans to shy away from VA services and talk out their problems.

Relationship between veteran issues and public/community health nursing

Nurses play a significant role in helping underserved and marginalized populations using evidence-based techniques and methods. Today nurses are at the forefront in fulfilling the needs of the veteran population. There is a need for an explanation of the working of the VA system to the veterans to ensure easy access to care and service delivery.

Nurses are top-notch professionals and will not miss encountering veterans in their line of duty. During interrogation with their patients, they should focus on inquiry military data to reach out to these vulnerable groups and find them easily.

Practices to improve health outcomes for the veteran population.

The transition from military to civilian life greatly impacts the mental wellbeing of veterans; hence there is a need for health intervention. According to (Oster et al. 2017), it is important to consider the veterans’ mental, social, and physical wellbeing needs and the factors needed to curb these needs.

There is various form of treatment of PTSD. According to (Olenick et al. 2015), veterans can access psychotherapy, group therapy, and prolonged exposure therapy. Antidepressants can be used to suppress depression in these vulnerable groups. Rehabilitation care is also a practice that can balance veterans’ mental, social, and emotional lives unable to gel to civilian life. Military life is associated with hazardous substances such as radiation, and nuclear energy, and many other chemicals. This puts veterans’ life in danger. According to (Olenick), there is a need for accurate research on the severity of the hazards to the vulnerable group and assert necessary treatment. This is a major step in veteran health care.

According to (Kilbourne et al. 2018), more than 9 million veterans are enrolled on the VA system. the VA needs to improve the quality of the health care system for this population and remove hindrances and restrictions that derail the system from providing essential information services for veterans.

Viable Technology

technology is an essential tool to allow veterans with PTSD to encounter health care providers through therapy to open up about their traumas and get support. According to (Chumbler, Haggstrom & Saleem 2011), Veteran Health Association has prompted many institutes of medicine to implement health information technology, telehealth, and personal health record to uphold veterans’ services. Viable technology improves time and efficiency and enhances quality delivery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Brown, N. B., & Bruce, S. E. (2016). Stigma, career worry, and mental illness symptomatology: Factors influencing treatment-seeking for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers and veterans. Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy, 8(3), 276.