Veterans Day and Military Mental Health

On behalf of the staff and volunteers at Metropolitan Community Services, we would like to extend our gratitude to the brave men and women of the armed forces who risked their lives to keep our country safe. The sacrifices that our Veterans and current military members have made do not come at a small price. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 12% of Gulf War Veterans experience PTSD every year. That number increases to about 15% among Vietnam Veterans. At the same time, as high as 11 - 20% of Iraq War Veterans also suffer from PTSD. In addition to PTSD, Veterans also struggle with other mental health conditions such as depression and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as physical ailments.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office states that 2.1 million Veterans have received mental health treatment from 2006 - 2010. However, only about 50% of returning Veterans who need mental health treatment will receive these services. It is important for Veterans to seek mental health support to learn strategies for coping with PTSD, TBI, and depression. For further information on receiving Veteran mental health support please visit the following link: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/

Metropolitan Community Services assists individuals with Social Security Disability applications and would be happy to assist Minnesota Veterans with initial applications at little or no cost. For more information on our Social Security Disability advocacy services, please contact us at 952-658-8995 or advocacy@mcsmn.com.