Of service to those who serve…The intersection of veterans and higher education.

“Just because this happened to me does not mean

that I am broken.”

• Secretary Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Veterans

Administration

General demographics

•50% - 60% of soldiers are married•50% have children•95% of Armed Forces hold a high school

diplomaWar Clinician Guide 2008; Thomas Church 2009

National Council on Disability, 2009

•A diverse population•Nationally, 45% of vets under 30 are

people of color.

#’s • U.S. Department of Defense (April 2009):

▫ Approximately 1.8 million troops▫ 34,000 U.S. troops “wounded-in-action”▫ Another 43,000 U.S. troops have “non-hostile injuries”

(accidents, illnesses, mental breakdowns)

• U.S. Veterans Affairs (September 2006)▫ More than 50,000 military personnel have sustained

non-mortal wounds

disability• Rand Corporation Study (2008)

▫ 40% of returning veterans have incurred a "cognitive disability" including PTSD,TBI, and/or depression. (36% according to a 2007 Harvard School of Government report)

• National Council on Disability (2009)▫ 16% to 49% of returning veterans develop some form of

"mental health issue" including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and substance abuse.

disability• TBI

▫Rand (2008): 320,000 or 19% vets with TBI ▫DoD (2009): 360,000 or 20% vets with TBI

(Military.com , 2009; Church, 2009)▫National Council on Disability (2009): 11%-

20%

• PTSD▫National Council on Disability (2009): 10%-

30%

Stress…•The average length of deployment in Iraq

is 15 months

•1/3 of service members have experienced second and third deployments — some 5 times

•The risk of disability increases with each deployment

•The risk of mental health problems increases 60% with each consecutive deployment

(Coleman 2008, Church 2009)

battlemind▫Is a mental orientation developed during combat

zone deployment

▫“Battlemind is the Soldier’s inner strength to face fear and adversity with courage. Key components include:

Self confidence: taking calculated risks and handling challenges.

Mental toughness: overcoming obstacles or setbacks and maintaining positive thoughts during times of adversity and challenge.”

Source: Battlemind Information (www/behavioralhealth.army.mil/.battlemind/index.html). U.S. Army, Medical Command (May 15, 2008). Retrieved on May 22, 2008

battlemindBattlemind skills help soldiers survive in combat, but may cause problems if not adapted when the soldier comes home

“The military teaches service members skills that help them to survive and succeed in war. These same skills can cause problems…for example, secretiveness and control are very important in the war zone…however, communication and sharing are necessary” post-deployment

Source: Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Families of Military Members. National Center for PTSD, 2006

And more stress…

•86% received artillery fire•93% were shot at•77% fired at the enemy•95% saw dead bodies or remains•89% were attacked/ambushed•86% knew an injured or killed service

member•65% saw a dead or injured American•69% saw injured women/children but

were unable to help

A time of blasts…

•About 80% of U.S. soldiers’ injuries and 40% of deaths are attributed to blasts

•Many veterans are exposed to several blasts

Zoroya, 2007; Church, 2009O’Hanlon and Campbell, 2008; National Council on Disability 2009

What is traumatic?

•An overwhelming event

•Threat or reality of “life or limb” peril

•Unexpectedness

•Fear, helplessness, or horror

It’s not a new occurance

•1670’s = nostalgia•1800’s = exhaustion•U.S. Civil War = Soldier’s heart•WW1 = Shell Shock•WW2 = Battle Fatigue•Vietnam conflict = Vietnam Syndrome•1980 DSMIII = PTSD

Post-traumatic Stress DisorderIncidence in Returning Warriors

• 20-30% of vets return from Afghanistan and Iraq exhibiting symptoms of PTSD

Definition

• PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop following a traumatic event that threatens an individual’s safety or makes him/her feel helpless

PTSD symptoms• PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic

event (2-3 months) – but may not happen until months or years later

• There are four major types of symptoms

▫Reliving the event

▫Avoidance

▫Numbing

▫Feeling keyed up

Reliving• Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event

• Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)

• Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)

• Feelings of intense stress when reminded of the trauma

• Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g., pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)

Avoidance

•Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma

• Many with PTSD avoid talking about their experiences because they feel that if the person they are talking to “wasn’t there” - they can't possible understand what the individual is going through

• Many will “keep very busy” to avoid thinking or talking about the event

Numbing•Loss of interest in activities and life in general

•Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb

•Sense of a limited future (individual doesn’t expect to live a normal life span, get married, or have a career)

•Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma

Keyed up• Difficulty falling or staying asleep

• Irritability and/or outbursts of anger

• Difficulty concentrating

• Hyper-vigilance (on constant “red alert”)

• Feeling jumpy

• Easily startled

• Always feels “on guard”

Other common symptoms…•Anger and irritability

•Guilt, shame, or self-blame

•Substance abuse

•Depression and hopelessness

•Suicidal thoughts and feelings

•Feeling alienated and alone

•Feelings of mistrust and betrayal

•Headaches, stomach problems, chest painSource: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms, Treatment, and Self-Help. Melinda Smith, M.A., Robert Segal, Ph.D., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_sypmtoms_treatment.htm

Veteran Friendly Campus Community?

• At least one campus unit stepping forward to provide leadership

• Obtaining “buy-in” from all campus units: -- Admissions -- Housing -- Transportation -- Campus Police -- Student Conduct -- Counseling Center

Veteran Friendly Campus Community?

-- Veteran Affairs -- TRiO Programs

-- Academic Advising -- Office of Diversity

-- Office of Disability Resource/Service -- Office for Equal Opportunity• Forming a Veterans’ group• Continued training• Nothing about us without us

Publicity

“Just because this happened to me does not mean that I

am broken.”

• Secretary Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Veterans Administration