Veteran Student Mental Health

1. LGBT

1.1. A 2013 study found that LGBT service members were 5 times more likely to screen positive for PTSD than non LGBT service members.

1.2. The most common mental health diagnosis LGBT service members experienced were mood disorders, PTSD, and tobacco use disorder. (Pelts, M.D, Albright, D.L. 2015; Blosnich, J. R., Marsiglio, M. C., Gao, S., Gordon, A. J., Shipherd, J. C., Kauth, M., Fine, M. J., 2016).

2. Experience in College

2.1. The number of veterans enrolling in college has increased, however, veteran students have lower graduation rates.

2.2. Results found that veteran students adjusted to civilian life fairly well, but a proportionate amount found that it was difficult and depression, emotional problems and PTSD being the biggest reason. (McCaslin, S. E., Leach, B., Herbst, E., & Armstrong, K., 2013; Schonfeld, L., Braue, L. A., Stire, S., Gum, A. M., Cross, B. L., & Brown, L. M., 2015).

3. Stress Factors

3.1. Student Veterans found that financial stress was a stress factor in college.

3.2. Another major contributing stress factor is identity. Veteran students reported continually feeling like their identity is changing. (Olsen, T., Badger, K., & McCuddy, M. D. 2014; Vacchi, D., Hammond, S., & Diamond, A.,2017).

4. Civilian Student vs. Veteran Student

4.1. Veteran students report higher rates of PTSD. (1.5-3.5 times more likely).

4.2. Prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors are higher among veteran college students when compared to civilian students.

4.3. Significantly more student service members seek out mental health care than civilian students.

4.4. Veteran students will experience higher rates of self harm (Blosnich, J. R., Kopacz, M. S., McCarten, J., & Bossarte, R. M, 2015; Cleveland, S. D., Branscum, A. J., Bovbjerg, V. E., & Thorburn, S, 2015; Pelts, M.D, Albright, D.L. 2015).

5. Symptoms

5.1. Veteran students experience high rates of anxiety.

5.2. Studies on veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom showed that 34% experienced severe anxiety, 23% severe depression and 45% PTSD.

5.3. Study found 46% of Veteran students experience suicidal thoughts and 20% reported having a plan (Blosnich, J. R., Kopacz, M. S., McCarten, J., & Bossarte, R. M, 2015; Bonar, E. E., Bohnert, K. M., Walters, H. M., Ganoczy, D., & Valenstein, M, 2015; Schonfeld, L., Braue, L. A., Stire, S., Gum, A. M., Cross, B. L., & Brown, L. M., 2015; Currier, J. M., McDermott, R. C., & Sims, B. M., 2018).

6. Prevalence of Veteran Students

6.1. Over 500,000 veteran students have used post 9-11 GI Bill for higher education.

6.2. Added benefits have resulted in almost 1 million current and former service members using Veterans Affairs educational programs (Blosnich, J. R., Kopacz, M. S., McCarten, J., & Bossarte, R. M, 2015;Cleveland, S. D., Branscum, A. J., Bovbjerg, V. E., & Thorburn, S, 2015).