Mental health experts who spoke during a Dec. 1 symposium at the La Jolla Marriott predicted a tidal wave of post-traumatic stress from servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Rotary Club of Mission Bay hosted a mental illness prevention and recovery event that included topics ranging from issues surrounding the returning veterans and their families to their recovery barriers.
“When people are done redeploying, we’re going to see a tsunami of mental health issues,” said Jon Nachison, chief of psychology for Paradise Valley Hospital.
Because the field hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan have better technology than they did in past wars such as Vietnam, doctors are able to save soldiers coming in with more serious injuries. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one residual effect “” and a major issue of the current war and for incoming troops and their families, Nachison said.
In addition to TBI, more troops are showing signs of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Nachison said.
Nachison described PTSD akin to an internal war between a person’s memory and brain. In a war, seeing certain scenes triggers the effect. Although the disorder can affect anyone, it is tougher to treat when related to combat, he said.
Statistics show that National Guard Reservists have the highest incidents of PTSD, and that soldiers at greatest risk are between the ages of 18 and 24, Nachison said.
When the troops come home with PTSD or TBI, they often avoid telling anyone due to the stigma attached, he said.
“They are not supposed to have these problems. They try not to deal with it by trying to isolate,” Nachison said. “They deal by numbing with alcohol or drugs.”
Statistics from late 2006 state that there are 6,300 people on the street in San Diego, said Rhonda Gibbs, M.S.W., housing director of the Community Research Foundation.
One of every four homeless people in San Diego is a veteran, Nachison said. In addition, the Army’s suicide rate is the highest in 25 years, he said.
“Inside the war zone, there’s a lot of depression and PTSD amongst the troops,” Nachison said. “Then the veterans end up on the streets.”
An ongoing theme during the symposium was early intervention and hope, including helping the troops through policy change.
If a soldier goes to his or her commanding officer for help with a problem such as alcoholism or PTSD, it goes on their record. That must change, Nachison said.
Also, TBI is not currently recognized by the Pentagon as an injury, though it is increasingly prevalent in Iraq ” including the 20,000 cases of TBI in which data was collected yet still not recognized, he said.
Nachison recommends a work program for veterans returning home from the war, focusing on the skills they gain in the military.
“We need to find ways to put them to work,” he said. “They gain terrific organizational skills and leadership skills.”
Without early intervention, some of the problems that returning troops face include domestic violence and legal problems. There also are an increasing number of crimes committed, Nachison said.
“War never helps people’s mental health,” he said.
For more information, contact the Rotary Club of Mission Bay at www.rotary5340.org or Mary Ann Brummer, chair, at [email protected].