Teravainen He is the CEO and co-founder of Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) and lives in the Highland Valley. acerol He is the CEO of PsychArmor and lives in Oceanside.
Transitioning from military life can be a daunting and difficult process. Gone are the meticulously scheduled, organized, and scrutinized routines that give veterans a sense of independence and self-reliance they haven't felt in years. Indeed, the end of service may come with a sense of relief. However, for many people, the end of their military career comes with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and uncertainty.
Much of that uncertainty revolves around economic insecurity.a 2021 Survey by Military Family Support Network Almost 40% of veterans were found to have less than $500 in emergency savings funds, if any at all. on the other hand, 2022 Annual Warrior Survey; In a survey by the Wounded Warrior Project, 64 percent of respondents said they did not have enough money to make ends meet at some point last year.
The number of veterans struggling to meet their financial obligations is concerning to all Americans, given how prevalent experiences of houselessness, couchsurfing, and persistent homelessness are in the veteran community. This should be a good statistic. Although progress has been made in reducing veteran homelessness over the past decade, the crisis remains, with an estimated 35,574 veterans reported as unsheltered as of January 2023. US Department of Veterans Affairs. California has particularly alarming rates of homelessness among ex-military personnel. 2020 Senate Housing Committee The state has the highest number of homeless veterans in the country, the report says.
It's no secret that financial instability can be a major stressor for adults, but imagine how much more that can be when you're dealing with the stresses of post-military life. The threat of homelessness is a serious stressor that can be a reality for many people, especially those in the military. This is compounded by the additional mental health challenges that service members can face during these transitional times. Concerns about the mental health of veterans and military personnel have significantly increased, with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression becoming the most prevalent issues. According to the report, suicide is the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45, and it is important to recognize the prevalence of these problems. 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report.
While there are many causes of mental instability among veterans, we cannot continue to ignore how big a role economic insecurity plays in preventing military suicide.of Center for Disease Control cite increasing financial support as the number one strategy for suicide prevention. Financial stability, or lack thereof, can make a huge difference in a veteran's life.
Financial stress can have a disastrous effect on a veteran's mental health, leading to long-term struggles with depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. Veterans struggle with mental illness while also having an even harder time finding work after leaving the military.by 2022 Annual Warrior Survey48% of respondents cited mental health or psychological distress as their biggest barrier to employment.
We cannot ignore the direct relationship between economic instability, mental health issues, and suicide among veterans. Helping veterans feel financially secure is a critical step in reducing stressors that impact mental health. That's why the work of organizations like ours (Support the Enlisted Project and PsychArmor) is so important to veterans. While you may not think of funding and training as life-saving efforts, our organization's programs actually provide military personnel with strategies to address both their finances and their mental health.
It is not enough to give money directly to families in need or pay off debts. So let's support the projects we participate in. One more step. We employ social workers who are also financial counselors and work directly with military families to implement solution-focused interventions. This allows military members to reduce financial stress and create a financial plan to reach their goals. Families who work with us develop the confidence and skills to permanently improve their financial health.
When veterans are able to take control of their finances, civilian life becomes much less stressful. They can more easily focus on the emotional toll of such a large-scale transition. They are prepared to deal with any lingering issues they may have while on the job without having to worry about how to pay for medical care, psychological assistance, or daily necessities. Fiscal stability is not a quick fix to the mental health and suicide epidemic in the military community, but it establishes a foundation that enables lasting change.
