After years of waiting and being ignored, attention is finally being focused on the dismal treatment of our wounded service members in government hospitals.  While these men and women bear the visible scars of their time in the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, there are other veterans who are suffering in silence, carrying scars that can’t be seen. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the lingering effects many of our troops are facing after serving their time in war. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs has estimated that between twelve and twenty percent of troops who served in Iraq are now experiencing some degree of PTSD.   Service members who suffer from PTSD can be experiencing emotional numbness, isolation, depression and substance abuse.  Individuals with PTSD can be functional, living their day to day lives without any significant visible disruption, or they can be truly handicapped and unable to function normally.  Many troops with PTSD experience marital difficulties often leading divorce.  They may also experience instability in their careers and professional lives. 

With the current upsurge in troop deployments to Iraq to support the current security crackdown, many service members are facing a second and even third deployment to a combat zone.  These repeated deployments increase a service member’s risk for developing PTSD. 

Troops facing PTSD may not be seeking the help they need.  The American Psychological Association estimates that of the troops who meet the criteria for the disorder fewer than forty percent seek help.  There may be a number of reasons for this low rate of professional treatment for PTSD.  Many service members may fear the stigma of admitting that they need psychological help.  They may fear condemnation by their fellow combat vets.  They may fear that having PTSD is a sign of weakness.  As a result, many of our troops who need help dealing with the horrors they have experienced may not be getting it. 

The Defense Department is responding to the needs of our troops by sending mental health teams into the field to monitor our service members.  The military has also started a new program to screen troops three to six months after they return home from deployment.  It is important that our military and our healthcare professionals actively reach out to our vets and let them know that help is available.  They do not have to suffer in silence.  Our troops have gone through so much to protect this nation, it is imperative that we do out part to protect them.