In the Spotlight

Support Needed for Returning Vets with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Breaking down Workplace Barriers for Vets Transitioning to Civilian Careers - Understanding Invisible (Mental) Health Needs

By PWDF Staff

A recent Pentagon study found about 38% of soldiers and 31% of Marines reporting psychological conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after returning from deployment. Unfortunately, the numbers are expected to grow because of repeated and extended deployments.

The actual number of cases of PTSD is also believed to be underreported for years, as many veterans are not diagnosed when first experiencing symptoms of PTSD. Some vets do not seek help, and others may be misdiagnosed before finally receiving the PTSD diagnosis. There are often long delays, sometimes years, in veterans being diagnosed with PTSD[1]. The reasons are uncertain but could be attributed to the stigma of mental illness. The Vet Center were set up in the 1970s as a response to requests  that the VA should be accessible in neighborhoods.

Acknowledging a lack of effective mental health care and support for returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson, on July 16, 2007, announced before a national forum of VA mental health experts that the VA will expand their mental health services, allotting $37.7 million of its nearly $3 billion mental health budget toward placing psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers within primary care clinics. The departing Secretary hopes this action will help fight the stigma associated with seeking help for depression and other psychiatric impairments.

The VA states that they are increasing the number of VA-run Vet Centers, hiring more suicide-prevention coordinators, and keeping emergency psychiatric services open around the clock. The Vet Centers provide drop-in treatment services such as counseling, marriage therapy, and job assistance.

Despite these announced measures, many vets remain unsatisfied with VA's services for returning vets, especially for those with diagnosed PTSD. Due to the problems in navigating the bureaucratic obstacles when filing PTSD disability claims and obtaining needed medical care, disabled veterans must develop additional coping skills. Some are able to get help in developing these skills, but many must do so on their own.

Even though many veterans suffering from PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities want full-time or part-time jobs, they are struggling to find long-term employment because of strongly rooted stigma and/or the severity of their psychiatric disabilities[2].

The Departments of Defense, VA, Homeland Security, and Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service are collaboratively offering the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), which provides veterans information on life insurance, health care, and career planning. There are also online career resources such as CareerOneStop's Military-to-Civilian Occupation Translator that veterans can use to access information covered by TAP. However, it appears that accessing these resources also involves a lot of "runaround." Short of getting a direct referral from VA, veterans could spend hours (or days) being redirected from one site to another just to locate a local TAP office.

Recognizing the need for additional resources, People With Disabilities Foundation (PWDF) is working to positively influence the lives of veterans as well as other individuals with psychiatric impairments through our Education and Public Awareness Program. In our first training video, Accommodating Employees and Job Applicants with Psychiatric Disabilities in the Workplace, the rights of the employer and the employee with respect to reasonable accommodations for people with mental impairments under the Americans with Disabilities Act are described. This video could be purchased through our Online Store at www.pwdf.org/media.

PWDF is currently in production of a new video, tentatively titled Understanding Employees and Job Applicants with Invisible (Psychiatric) Disabilities. This new video aims to promote equal employment opportunities for people with mental disabilities through vignettes on mental disabilities in the workplace. Featured in the video are real stories with varied job skills and different disabilities, including PTSD. In the training video, we portray the work experiences of a veteran with PTSD, who was diagnosed after his military service. We are anticipating a release date within this year. For updated information on this video, please visit the PWDF web site at www.pwdf.org/news/press.html.

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PWDF Profile

Who We Are

People With Disabilities Foundation is an operating
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California, which focuses on the rights of the mentally disabled.

Services

Advocacy: PWDF advocates for Social Security claimant's disability benefits in eight Bay Area counties. We also provide services in disability rights, on issues regarding returning to work, and in ADA consultations, including areas of employment, health care, and education, among others. There is representation before all levels of federal court and Administrative Law Judges. No one is declined due to their inability to pay, and we offer a sliding scale for attorney's fees.

Education/Public Awareness: To help eliminate the stigma against people with mental disabilities in society, PWDF's educational program organizes workshops and public seminars, provides guest speakers with backgrounds in mental health, and produces

Education/Public Awareness: To help eliminate the stigma against people with mental disabilities in society, PWDF's educational program organizes workshops and public seminars, provides guest speakers with backgrounds in mental health, and produces educational materials such as training videos with an audience of Human Resource managers and Vocational Rehabilitation counselors.

Continuing Education Provider: State Bar of California MCLE, California Board of Behavioral Sciences Continuing Education, and Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.