New Grants to Help Veterans With PTSD During the Pandemic

• Author: Kelly Cooke
• Posted: 2024-04-08

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, veterans have been under a lot of stress. Many veterans have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of their time in active duty. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for people in need of mental health treatment to gain access to the therapies they need in order to get through their challenges. A new grant in Alabama will provide nearly $2 million for veterans who have PTSD and are directly impacted by COVID-19.

About the Grants

The $2 million in funds for mental health counseling for veterans comes from the CARES Act. It is slated for veterans who have been directly impacted by COVID-19, such as getting infected by it, losing their jobs because of it or caring for a sick child or spouse who was infected. The funds will pay for mental health treatment the veterans need for dealing with their PTSD and the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Types of Services Covered By the Grant

The funds will pay for veterans to have virtual meetings three times per week. The meetings will last for one hour. A licensed psychologist, social worker or psychiatrist will lead the meetings. The program will be administered by Priority Soldier. This is a nonprofit that helps veterans with PTSD. The meetings will provide counseling, guidance and coping strategies for veterans who are feeling overwhelmed by stress from the pandemic and who are having difficulty treating their PTSD with medication alone.

Who Can Participate in the Funded Program

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that the grants will pay for four weeks of mental health therapy for veterans who reside in 11 counties in Alabama. Those counties are the state's most populous and are where most veterans reside. So far, more than 60 veterans have enrolled in the program. State officials explain that there is room for another 100 veterans to join. Veterans can apply online or call the Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs for additional information.

Why This Program Is Important

The United States has a severe lack of mental health services for all citizens. The situation for veterans is worse. Veterans have higher rates of mental illness and lower access to care. Many veterans are discharged with PTSD, and finding treatment for it can be a challenge. Most treatments are tied to insurance, and PTSD makes it difficult for a person to hold down a job. Joblessness and homelessness are pervasive in the veteran population. The issues create a positive feedback cycle. Veterans have high rates of PTSD, which makes it difficult to hold a job, which makes accessing treatment for PTSD a problem. Many veterans fall through the safety net, especially if they become homeless and are difficult for social workers to reach.

How Many Veterans Have PTSD

An estimated 30.9% of veterans will develop PTSD during their lifetime. More males than females usually develop PTSD. This may be related to males being assigned to more combat operations than females, although this has changed over the past few years. The percentage of veterans who suffer from PTSD also varies by the time and length of their service. About 14% to 17% of those who served in the Vietnam War have been diagnosed with PTSD. The Department of Veterans Affairs states that about 12% of Gulf War veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD. Between 11% and 20% of veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have been diagnosed with PTSD. Not all PTSD cases result from combat. Some result from assault or harassment during a veteran's time of service. More than 55% of female veterans report experiencing sexual harassment, and 27% report being sexually assaulted while in the military.

COVID-19's Impact on Veterans' Mental Health Issues

Veterans who had their PTSD under control before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have encountered a range of problems. Their providers may have switched to remote therapy services. A veteran who can't afford the technology to have a telehealth counseling session wouldn't be able to receive their routine counseling sessions. For some veterans, the COVID-19 pandemic may have triggered their PTSD. The pandemic has also induced anxiety, and anxiety can also exacerbate PTSD. Many people lost their jobs when local and state authorities forced certain segments of the economy to temporarily close. While some of those jobs have returned, not all of them have. Veterans may have experienced excessive stress related to job losses or worries about losing their jobs.