Journal Article

Mental Health Issues in Recently Returning Women Veterans: Implications for Practice

Stromwall, Layne K., Lietz, Cynthia A., Carlson, Bonnie E.

2013

Overview

Increasing numbers of women are found in the military, and they are now performing roles very similar to those of male service members. More returning servicewomen and veterans have been exposed to stressful and traumatic experiences, such as combat and difficult living circumstances, and military sexual trauma is common. These experiences have been found to be associated with adverse mental health outcomes, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse in particular. Comorbidity rates are also high. In addition, more veterans are returning with injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. Although more women veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are seeking health services at Veterans Administration facilities, many are not. Thus, community-based social workers need to be familiar with the needs of this growing population to serve them effectively. Use of empirically supported assessment instruments and screening for military sexual trauma are recommended. Recommended interventions include the use of evidence-supported practices, such as cognitive—behavioral treatment, and offering assistance to enhance social support among women veterans.

• Publisher: NASW PRESS,Oxford University Press
• Subject: Afghan Campaign 2001 / Afghanistan War / Armed Forces / Behavior Modification / Brain / Brain damage / Care and treatment / Cognitive behavioral therapy / Cognitive Restructuring / Cognitive-behavioral factors / Community health care / Community mental health services / Community psychiatric services / Comorbidity / Depression (Psychology) / Depressive disorders / Evidence-Based Practice / Female / Females / Foreign Countries / Freedom / Freedoms / Health aspects / Health Services / Health status / Help Seeking / Humans / Injuries / Intervention / Intervention (Psychology) / Iraq War, 2003-2011 / Measures / Measures (Individuals) / Medical screening / Mental disorders / Mental Disorders - epidemiology / Mental Disorders - therapy / Mental Health / Mental health care / Mental health services / Mental illness / Methods / Military hospitals / Military intervention / Military Service / Physical trauma / Post traumatic stress disorder / Posttraumatic Stress Disorder / Psychological aspects / Servicemen / Sexual Abuse / Sexual assault / Social aspects / Social Support / Social Work / Social workers / Substance Abuse / Trauma / Traumatic brain injury / Traumatic life events / Treatment Outcomes / Treatment Programs / United States - epidemiology / Veterans / Veterans - psychology / Veterans Health / Violence against women / Warfare / Women / Women - psychology / Women veterans / Womens health