At least 1.6 million American military personnel have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Iraq war veterans are exhibiting higher rates of post-combat mental health problems than veterans of any other war in this nation’s history. In the words of one military analyst, “There is a freight-train of suffering soldiers headed our way, and we’re not prepared for them.”

Due to repeat, extended tours, an unprecedented wound-to-kill ratio of 16 to 1, and the high incidence of civilian casualties in a war without front lines, the most conservative estimates now are that at least 30 percent of troops will suffer some post-combat mental health problems. While post-combat mental health issues affect an individual veteran, the aftermath of war impacts the whole family and reverberates across communities.

Citizen Soldiers Have Higher Rates of Combat Trauma

More than 400,000 National Guard and Reservists have fought in the war on terror, but their battles didn’t end when they got home. “Reservists are more vulnerable than regular service soldiers…for psychiatric breakdown,” according to a 1996 study commissioned by the Department of Defense on the impact of long-term overseas deployments of Guard and Reserve troops. Almost half of the citizen soldiers who served in Iraq have post-combat mental health problems, but they don’t have the same care as active duty. That’s wrong, and The Sanctuary for Veterans & Families wants to make it right.

Military Families Serve, Too

When a soldier goes to war, so does the family. Over 10 million Americans have sent an immediate family member off to war, and saying good-bye to your soldier for the second, third, or fourth deployment doesn’t get easier. Every combat deployment means more stress for the troops and the families left behind. When a soldier is killed or wounded in combat, or comes home with combat trauma, the whole family suffers. But help can be hard to find. The Sanctuary for Veterans & Families will provide military and Gold Star families and loved ones a safe haven that offers outreach, referrals, respite, counseling, workshops and support before, during, and after their soldier’s combat deployments.

Thank you for helping us keep America’s promise to support the troops and care for this nation’s veterans and military families by making a tax-deductible contribution today.

FFI: Contact Stacy Bannerman, Founder/Director, at info@sanctuaryvf.org