Know the Facts

Veterans of All Eras:

• Substance abuse disorders remain one of the three top diagnoses in the VA system.
  (Dr. Richard T.Suchinsky, DVA, Chief for Addictive Disorders)
• More Veterans have committed suicide since 2001 than we have lost on the battlefields of
  Iraq and Afghanistan—each one a tragedy. (Remarks by Secretary Eric K. Shinseki,
  Mental Health Summit—Opening Remarks, October 26, 2009)
• Veteran suicides: 18 per day; accounts for 20% of the national annual 30,000 suicides (Gulf War Syndrome, PTSD and Military Suicides: U.S. Government's Message to America’s Vets: "Drop Dead"  by Richard Gale and Gary Null  July 2010)
• On any given day, Veterans account for nine of every 100 individuals in US jails and
  prisons. Veterans with PTSD are having encounters with the police; the majority of
  these encounters are alcohol and drug related crimes. (NAMI Pennsylvania Veterans
  Advisory Council)
• According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, about 23 % of the
  homeless population in the United States are veterans. Nearly half are from the Vietnam
  era and three-fourths experience some type of alcohol, drug, or mental health problem. Most
  of the homeless veterans, estimated by the VA to number at least 130,000 on any
  given night nationwide, are men older than 50 (The Boston Globe, Bryan Bender, July 6, 2009)

Female Veterans:

• Suicide rates were 78 percent higher among female veterans age 35 to 44, and 58 percent higher among those age 45 to 64.  (Women Vets’ Suicide Risk Rises Sharply December 03, 2010 Mclatchy -Tribune News Service)
• The primary cause of PTSD for female troops: military sexual trauma. Nearly 1/3 of female veterans report episodes of sexual assault during military service, while 71% report experiences of sexual harassment. (Women Warriors: Issues Confronting Servicewomen and Women Veterans Monday, 12 July 2010, 12:46)
• More than 48,000 female veterans screened positive for Military Sexual Trauma in 2008 (Women Warriors: Issues Confronting Servicewomen and Women Veterans Monday, 12 July
  2010, 12:46)
• As of 2009, 66% of female veterans seeking VA care were under 30 years of age, and 60% of those women had been evaluated with PTSD (From Service Women’s Action Network: Homeless Women Vets Fact Sheet - 2009)
• 11 % or 230,000 of the service members who served in OEF and OIF are female. Women now account for 14% of active duty; 17% of the Reserve and National Guard components. (http://standown.org/homeless.html - Updated June 2010)
• There are more than 16,000 single mothers, according to the Pentagon, a number that military experts say is unprecedented. (16,000 Single Mothers Serving in Iraq  by: Yearning to Be Whole Again; By Donna St. George, The Washington Post, Friday 24 November 2006)
• About a quarter of female veterans in the VA’s Homelessness Programs have minor
  children. (Mulhall, Erin. 2009. “Women Warriors: Supporting She ‘Who Has Borne the Battle.’” New York: IAVA)
• There are currently an estimated 13,100 homeless female veterans in the United States. (Mulhall, Erin. 2009. “Women Warriors: Supporting She ‘Who Has Borne the Battle.’” New York: IAVA.)
  
• Women veterans are up to 4 times more likely to be homeless compared to non-veteran women and male veterans. (Gamache, Gail, Robert Rosenheck, and Richard Tessler. 2003. “Overrepresentation of Women Veterans Among Homeless Women.”)
• The number of female veterans who end up homeless has nearly doubled over the last decade, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. One out of every 10 homeless vets under the age of 45 is a woman. (http://standown.org/homeless.html - Updated June 2010)
• Approximately 45% of homeless veterans suffer from mental health issues, 70% are
  affected by substance abuse issues, and 40% of female homeless veterans report
  experiences of sexual assault in the military. (Williamson, Vanessa and Erin Mulhall. 2009. “Invisible Wounds: Psychological and Neurological Injuries Confront a New Generation of Veterans.” New York: IAVA. ; Mulhall, Erin. 2009. “Women Warriors: Supporting She ‘Who Has Borne the Battle.’” New York: IAVA.)
• Homeless women veterans are more likely to experience severe forms of mental illness
  compared to men, mostly because of higher rates of Military Sexual Trauma. (Williamson, Vanessa and Erin Mulhall. 2009. “Invisible Wounds: Psychological and Neurological Injuries Confront a New Generation of Veterans.” New York: IAVA. ; Mulhall, Erin. 2009. “Women Warriors: Supporting She ‘Who Has Borne the Battle.’” New York: IAVA.)

Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom:

• According to the Veterans Health Administration as of May 2008:
  
  • OEF/OIF veterans who are eligible for VA healthcare: 892,848
  • OEF/OIF veterans who have sought VA health care: 324,846
  • Percentage of those veterans diagnosed with PTSD/mental illness: 41.1%
  • Existing claims backlog: over one million, 200,000 more waiting 5 years for an appealed decision
  • Average wait for VA claim processing: >6 months
  • EF/OIF veterans expected to flood VA system in next 1-2 years: 700,000

• Lifetime projected taxpayer cost for OEF/OIF veterans: $350-700 Billion (if nothing is done to help bridge the gap in terms of treatment that is available. (http://www.oifveterancommunity.org/thewarstatistics.htm)
• In 2009, more than 1700 soldiers attempted suicide; 160 succeeded. That is the highest number in 30 years (NBC Nightly News report, Thursday July, 29, 2010; J. Miklaszewski reporting)
• 12% of combat troops in Iraq and 17% in Afghanistan are taking antidepressants or sleeping pills to help them cope. (TIME Magazine, America’s Medicated Army, June 5, 2008)
• Nearly 300,000 troops or 15% of those who have served, have been deployed three, four or more times. Revolving door of multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan linked to PTSD by Charon Cohen, The Associated Press, April 22, 2010
• A 2008 study showed that painkiller abuse among troops has soared since 2005, the last time a similar study was conducted. The 2005 survey showed that 4% of soldiers had abused painkillers in the previous 30 days, compared with 13% in 2008. Abuse within the previous year was 10% in 2005 compared with 22% in 2008 (Gregg Zoroya, USA Today December 2009)
• Approximately 30% or 540,000 of those who have served are members of the National Guard or Reserves (CMHS National GAINS Center’s Forum on Veterans, Trauma and the Justice System)
• Approximately 40% of troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are parents (USA Today, Camps Flourish for Deployed Troops’ Kids, August 5, 2008)
• A 2008 study revealed that 37% of mental health professionals felt unprepared to help veterans with reintegration issues (New York State Health Foundation)