February 20, 2021

Why Mental Health Issues Afflict Many U.S. Vets

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Over two million Americans fought in the wars against terror in Iraq (2003-2018) and Afghanistan (2003-2018). According to Brown University’s Costs of War Project, the war in Iraq killed 4,550 U.S. troops while the war in Afghanistan cost the lives of 2,401 service members.

Not all those who survived the wars came home unscathed. Some returned home with missing limbs and other serious wounds and disabilities. A large number came home with varying degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to studies. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that PTSD affects 20% of veterans who served in Iraq and about 11% of veterans of the war in Afghanistan.

Experts say both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were responsible for roughly around 500,000 mentally scarred veterans.

The military operations the United States conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan were the longest ones since Vietnam. Luckily, some of our troops returned home from the conflicts unscathed. For many of them, adjusting to civilian life was not much of a problem.

However, many other veterans of the wars were not that lucky. They came back home forever scarred by the horrors they experienced on the battlefields.

The battles our troops fought in Iraq and Afghanistan were particularly brutal. They had to fight off heavily armed insurgents hiding in ruined buildings. Danger was everywhere with improvised explosives planted here and there. Our troops never knew when a routine patrol or look-out duty could turn out to be a fight for their lives. The nightmarish situation they faced day in and day out took a toll on the mental health of many of these soldiers. As a result, they developed PTSD and other mental health disorders.

Years after the war, they continue to struggle in reconnecting with their families, finding stable jobs, going back to school, and even getting a good night’s sleep.

According to the Department of Defense and the VA, mental health is one of the major issues that plague U.S. veterans, including those who fought in other wars.

Observers said it didn’t help that the drawdown of U.S. military personnel deployed overseas was “too fast.” They said this overwhelmed the programs and services offered by the government for returning troops with mental health issues. Since the effects of these disorders can last for years or even an entire lifetime, these observers said what the country had in place to accommodate our suffering veterans wasn’t enough.

As a result, some veterans diagnosed with PTSD were not able to receive proper treatment and assistance.

If you ask veterans, some of them may point out that getting physically wounded in combat was not the worst that could happen to a soldier since wounds and other injuries can heal over time. They may say that psychological damage is worse than physical wounds because such damage has a high possibility of being carried throughout one’s lifetime.

How You Can Help Our Suffering Veterans

For many of our veterans who returned home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, life will never be the same. They sacrificed much and bore scars that may last throughout their lifetimes. While some may get the chance to rest, get proper treatment, and return into normalcy, others may not be that fortunate.

Many of our veterans right now are suffering not only from mental health challenges but also from service-connected disabilities and lack of opportunity to find decent and stable sources of jobs that could enable them to support themselves and their families. Some of them have become homeless due to utter poverty.

The good news is that you can do something that can help ease their plight and even turn their lives around. All you have to do is to contact us at Veteran Car Donations and donate your old car that you no longer need or any other type of vehicle even if it’s no longer working properly.

We’ll auction off your donation and use the proceeds to support the critical programs and services of our charity partners in your area. These IRS-approved 501(c)3 nonprofits are at the forefront of providing disadvantaged veterans with quality health care, financial aid, housing assistance, employment opportunities, mentoring, family support, educational scholarships, psychotherapy services, and many other benefits.

You will also earn great rewards when you take part in our vehicle donation program. You’ll get to receive our free pickup and towing service wherever you are in the country. On top of that, you’ll also be entitled to receive a top tax deduction in the next tax season. 

You can check out our FAQs page to get to know our quick and convenient donation process and other details about our program. If you have questions and concerns, feel free to call us at 877-594-5822 or leave us a message here.

Our Heroes Need Your Help Today!

Photo by RDNE Stock project under Pexels License

Many of our veterans desperately need help. They are our heroes who fully deserve whatever assistance you can extend to them so they can live healthy, decent, and productive lives. Call us at 877-594-5822 or fill out our online donation form to show your support now!

Last Updated: August 23rd, 2023