One of the most devastating struggles that veterans and their families face after active duty is suicide. Suicide is much higher among veterans when compared to other populations. This is caused by a number of complex struggles that aren’t always clear to those they love or even themselves. Supporting veterans and educating yourself about some of the reasons that a veteran may turn to suicide is one of the best ways to avoid it. Foxhole Veterans Charity Foundation is here to talk about some of the reasons why suicide rates are higher among veterans.
Psychological & Mental Illness Struggles Can Lead to Suicide Among Vets
Whenever someone is serving in the military, it can put them in extreme conditions that leave that soldier with a lifelong struggle with psychological distress.
– PTSD & Trauma: Many veterans come home with PTSD struggles and trauma that they have to work through. This can be caused by life-threatening events, combat and other forms of trauma when serving.
– Depression: If veterans are experiencing depression on top of all the trauma they are facing, it can be a lethal combination.
– Moral Injury: Not all the scars that veterans come home with are visible. They have likely seen things that no human should ever have to witness. This can lead to feelings of shame, guilt and lead to them hating themselves.
Physical Health Issues
Anytime you experience serious physical health issues, it can start to take its toll on you both physical and mentally. Sometimes, when you are dealing with chronic pain, it can lead insomnia which can leave a lasting impact on your mental health. Traumatic brain injuries that occur during combat can also alter your brain chemistry and lead you to do things that you would never have otherwise done. A TBI can raise the risk of suicide significantly for veterans.
Loss of Community
It can feel as though veterans have lost part of their family when they are integrating back into civilian life. They are so used to spending time with their unit that they feel that loss in a big way. It can leave veterans feeling like they have lost their sense of purpose. Compounding on that problem, it isn’t uncommon for veterans to feel like they are a burden on their families and friends when they come home.
Find Support Training in Martial Arts
One way that veterans can find the support that they need is training in martial arts. It can help significantly improve their mental health and provide them with the community that they are longing for. At Foxhole Veterans Charity Foundation, we know how difficult it can be for veterans to assimilate back into civilian life. They can feel lost and hopeless. We work with veterans to provide them with the community and support they need to get used to life outside the military. Call us today!
