One wellness issues I believe will always be important to explain current
society is mental health with veterans. Mental health in the civilian world too,
however, I believe that mental health in vets is a major issue. I say this because
22 veterans a day take their lives, most of which are dealing with mental health
issues. This could be depression, anxiety, or the huge one, PTSD.
This issue is connected with wellness due to the fact that having depression,
anxiety, PTSD affects a person’s well-being. It can effect them not only
mentally but physically as well. If they do not get the proper treatment in
dealing with their mental health issues, they take a chance of watching their
life be destroyed or worse, end up taking their own life. Per Heidi Zinzow,
prior researchers have posted that one of the primary reasons soldiers do not
seek treatment for mental problems is the stigma associated with admitting
mental problems (Zinzow, 2012, para 8). This is a big deal because although
they have the chance to get the help (Albeit not great help), they feel they can
not get help because they do not want to look like they have problems. When
they do get help, a lot of times, they are just prescribed medicines. Per my own
personal experience and a couple failed attempts in 2017, I was told that if the
medicine isn’t working, to take more (up the dose). This does not help. This is
not the kind of help veterans need or should be provided.
As one who is always researching and watching articles and events dealing
with veterans, reflecting on this issue is deep. This is not the first time I have
talked about veterans and mental health and I have actually done papers on it.
It is a serious issue and I feel it needs more changes in order to decrease
numbers. A veteran wants to go into the VA and feel like they are going to be
helped for sure, not go into the VA and wonder what drugs they are getting
next.
Zinzow, H. M., Britt, T. W., McFadden, A. C., Burnette, C. M., & Gillispie, S.
(2012). Connecting active duty and returning veterans to mental health
treatment: Interventions and treatment adaptations that may reduce barriers to
care. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(8), 741–753.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2012.09.002
