Veterans Mental Health Issues

What happens to the troubled veterans who fought to keep our country safe? Many of them end up in the criminal justice system after being released from service for many different reasons, with one of the most prominent reasons being mental health issues. The Veterans Court was first established by Judge Robert Russell, during 2008, in Buffalo, New York after he noticed a rise in veterans returning to his courtroom (Army Times). Judge Russell founded the court system to counsel, mentor, and treat veterans with the care they were so desperately in need of. This system believes in giving the people’s hero a second chance at life. If veterans decide to embark on the eighteen-month rehabilitation option as opposed to prison, they endure group meetings,
Many service men and women served their country by fighting the war against terrorism in the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan. During this time these individuals were faced with the unbelievable grief of losing friends, loved ones, and comrades. They put their minds and bodies under an enormous amount of stress and pressure due to the on-edge atmosphere in which they were residing. Upon returning home from a six-month to a year deployment, these soldiers changed in ways they were not aware of. According to Clum, a combat veteran who had been deployed multiple times, he was unaware of his depression, and mild traumatic brain injury (Fox News). Veteran courts specialize in diagnosing and providing specific treatment for veterans like Clum. The licensed specialist identifies illnesses through therapy and counseling, as well as treats disorders with medication. Also, the specialized court system realizes that these issues are extremely real, and their mental health issue(s) may be the root of their willingness to break the law. Right before their deployment, one hundred percent of these veterans were law abiding citizens. After coming home, the physiological health issues sustained during the time of deployment were recognized by family, friends, and co-workers. The criminal activities in which these veterans were involved in goes against their
Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder caused by stressful and frightening events, or a traumatic event. Secondary behavioral health issues that stem from PTSD are: nightmares, anger, irritability, depression, lack of concentration, and isolation. Each of these behavioral health issues cause a trickling effect, which according to studies done by Veteran Affairs, can lead indirectly to criminal behavior (Fox News). For example, when faced with depression, one can lose interest in life, leaving them with a helpless feeling which in turn contributes to a lack of concentration and a feeling of worthlessness. Isolating oneself from others leaves troubled veterans with no support system. The veteran court system instills discipline and implements a structure back into their lives by placing the participants on a strict schedule. They are always on the move whether it be providing one of three urine samples taken in a day, communicating with their mentors, or participating their AA meetings. This schedule serves their need for structure that they respond to (Army Times). Discipline is implanted from the very beginning of the program. They know that if they are not willing to receive the guidance, then they will be dropped from the program because, “If you don’t want to do this … I’ve