Table of Contents

• How Many Veterans Battle with Mental Illness?
• 5 Signs of Someone Battling a Mental Illness
• Ways You Can Help a Veteran in Crisis
• Veteran Mental Health Resources to Know About
• Help Veterans Towards the Path of Peace

It’s important to support our nation’s heroes and help Veterans in their time of need. We hope this resource will educate you on how to help a Veteran in crisis, particularly when it comes to their mental health.

To start, we’d like to shed some light on some prevalent mental health issues within the Veteran community.

How Many Veterans Battle with Mental Illness?

1. 72% experienced depression, with 53% presenting moderate to severe symptoms.
2. 74% experienced anxiety, with 63% presenting moderate to severe symptoms
3. 25% of surveyed Veterans have had suicidal thoughts within the past 12 months.
4. 16% of surveyed Veterans experienced military sexual trauma (67% of those being women).
5. 75% of surveyed Veterans experienced PTSD as a result of their service, with 49% presenting moderate to severe symptoms.

Another study from BMC Women’s Health found that women are more likely to develop service-related mental health conditions when compared to their male counterparts.

PTSD: 29% of female Veterans vs. 12% of male Veterans

Depression: 46% of female Veterans vs. 21% of male Veterans

Suicidal ideation: 27% of female Veterans vs. 11% of male Veterans

5 Signs of Someone Battling a Mental Illness

This is because different conditions can manifest different traits. Additionally, many symptoms are internal, making them difficult for you to pick up on.  

Regardless, here are five common signs family members of Veterans may observe that can hint at an underlying battle with mental health.

1. Excessive worrying: It’s normal to have a little anxiety throughout the day, like worrying you left the stove on after you’ve left the house. Excessive worrying, however, can be debilitating. This is when fears and anxiety creep into your everyday life, keeping you from functioning optimally.
2. Extreme mood changes: A little fluctuation in mood is nothing to worry about. But when someone’s mood is unpredictable, even to themselves, that can be a sign of a larger issue. 
3. Avoidance of friends or social situations: Many people who have mental illness can feel overwhelmed in social scenarios, even if they’re surrounded by friends and family. If you find that Veterans in your life aren’t as willing to come out to socialize, that may be your sign to check in on them.
4. Changes in eating habits: People with anxiety disorders can have very different relationships with food. Some over eat as a coping mechanism, while others lose their appetite altogether. A change in either direction may be an indication that they have experienced a significant change in mood or mental state.
5. Changes in sex drive: You may notice a sudden change in their sex drive. People with depression tend to lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, including sex. 

Ways You Can Help a Veteran in Crisis

Here are four suggestions for how to help a Veteran in crisis.

1. Educate Yourself About Their Illness
   There is a lot of nuance to mental health illnesses. While you may never be an expert, you can do your best to educate yourself on these nuances so you have a baseline to help the Veterans in your life. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a resource that addresses the basics of many of the most common mental health disorders Veterans may experience. This is a great place to start your educational journey.
2. Help Them Find Treatment
   If the Veteran in your life is willing to seek treatment, you can help them get there. This may start with getting a proper diagnosis for their condition. Securing a diagnosis will help open the door to future treatment options. If you are a family member or spouse of the Veteran, you may want to work closely with their treatment team so you can stay in the loop on what their home treatment should look like.
3. Be Patient
   The path toward better management of mental health disorders is far from linear. There may be times of significant progress, but other times it may seem like no progress has been made at all. Just be patient and trust the process. It can be hard to get a holistic view of one’s progress, so focus on small successes in the meantime.
4. Take Care of Yourself
   You can’t be very helpful to others if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Don’t think of it as being selfish—just think of it as an opportunity to recharge. Eat healthily, exercise regularly, and don’t forget to indulge in your favorite activities. You may consider attending therapy for yourself.

Veteran Mental Health Resources to Know About

To supplement your own education, here is a list of Veteran mental health resources that may be helpful:

• Veterans Crisis Line is a Veteran mental health organization that offers confidential crisis support 24/7.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness offers resources for family members and caregivers of people living with mental health conditions.
• Telemedica organized a list of 25 organizations that help Veterans with jobs, injuries, housing, and many other means of support.
• This PTSD info sheet for recurring PTSD therapy can help families of Veterans with PTSD explore potential treatment options.
• These FAQs about psych evaluations can shed some light on treatment options.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a plethora of resources for families coping with mental and substance use disorders.

Help Veterans Towards the Path of Peace

If you’re witnessing a loved one in their struggle with mental illness, get some help. Telemedica is here to connect Veterans and their families with the resources they need. Contact us today for more information.

Table of Contents

• How Mental Health Impacts Veterans
• How Do I Bring Up My Concerns to My Doctor?
• Discussing Your Symptoms with Your Doctor
  • Questions to Ask Your Doctor During Your Appointment
• Contact Telemedica Today to Learn How We Can Help

So, what is World Mental Health Day? On October 10th, people around the world come together to talk about mental wellbeing and lessen the stigma surrounding it.

Veterans, you are not alone if you’re dealing with anxiety, PTSD, or any other mental health issue. However, the unique struggles Veterans face daily can make it challenging to bring up in conversation with doctors or loved ones. It’s well worth pursuing therapy for Veterans, though for some it can feel intimidating. 

World Mental Health Day provides us with the opportunity to break the stigma around mental health and bring shadows into the light. It’s time to have these conversations and discover resources to get you the support you need. 

How Mental Health Impacts Veterans

It is the responsibility of the community to provide a safe space to talk about the challenges you’re facing. They are real, valid, and critical to your well-being. 

It’s important to know that the feelings and experiences you may be dealing with on a daily basis are more common than you think—many Veterans have emotional stress that impact their relationships and daily activities. Roughly 1 in 5 Veterans experience mental health issues, including PTSD. However, only 12% of Veterans actively use mental health care resources. Considering that roughly 10–20% of PTSD cases can escalate to the point of debilitating symptoms, it’s more important than ever to seek help for mental health. 

How Do I Bring Up My Concerns to My Doctor?

The thought of bringing up your mental health concerns with your doctor is important for your quality of life. They are there to provide a safe, empathetic space to talk and are equipped with the resources to help you through this.

Choosing to have a conversation with your doctor about your emotional wellbeing can be a life-changing decision. Though you may think all you need is time to heal your emotional wounds, the afflictions you’re experiencing rarely go away on their own.

Discussing Your Symptoms with Your Doctor

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, bringing them up to your doctor can start the conversation.  

• Thinking negative thoughts about yourself
• Having frequent anxious feelings
• Losing your appetite
• Experiencing irritability or mood swings
• Having difficulty with daily activities
• Finding yourself sleeping too little or too much
• Struggling with concentration
• Hearing or seeing things that aren’t there

Questions to Ask Your Doctor During Your Appointment

It may be helpful to prepare some questions to ask your doctor so you can address all of your concerns. 

The Military mental health stigma can feel very real, but help is within reach. Your doctor is there to provide resources for your benefit, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and voice your concerns. Here are a few to get you started:

• What type of mental health issue might I be struggling with?
• How do you treat this issue?
• Why can’t I get over this by myself?
• How do I know if I really need therapy?
• Where can I find out about different therapies?
• How do I find a therapist?
• What can a therapist do for me?
• How long will treatment take?
• What can I do on my own to help the process?
• Do you have any printed materials I could look over?

Contact Telemedica Today to Learn How We Can Help

You’re in good company. Let’s celebrate World Mental Health Day together. We can all work toward breaking the stigma surrounding mental health conversations, especially for Veterans and those on active duty. 

Telemedica’s staff is happy to support you in making these conversations easier. Our team can help facilitate the conversation between you and a doctor who will guide you through the process. Contact us today to learn more.

Coping with Mental Illness: Winning Your Most Personal Battle

Many people are quick to thank our servicemen and women for their time in the military, but not everyone considers what that time may have cost them—and, more importantly, what it continues to cost our veterans after they return to civilian life.

The truth is, life in the military is hard on both the body and the mind, and it can leave wounds, both visible and invisible, that take years to heal.

As a result, many veterans are left to deal with mental illnesses that can be difficult to overcome on their own. 

Table of Contents

• Veterans and Mental Health
• 1. Coming to Terms with Your Situation
• 2. Dive Into Hobbies
• 3. Seek Treatment
• 4. Do Your Best to Not Compare Yourself to Others
• 5. Talk about Your Feelings
• 6. Stay Active
  • Medical Evidence Wins VA Claims

Veterans and Mental Health

Treatment for mental illness isn’t always finite; many mental health conditions are chronic and ongoing – some may even last a lifetime. As a result, living a healthy life with a mental health challenge is about understanding and incorporating the right coping mechanisms into your day-to-day routine. 

The good news is, it’s still possible to lead a fulfilling, productive life in spite of psychological challenges. Despite your limitations or personal struggles, you can still overcome your most personal mental health battles.

At Telemedica, we know how challenging this journey can be. Many of us are veterans ourselves, and have dealt with mental health battles of our own. We’ve been where you are, and we’re here to help. Keep reading for our six recommendations for coping with mental health challenges in your day to day life. 

1. Coming to Terms with Your Situation

Our struggles are part of the human experience. Accepting your situation requires letting go of judgments about yourself and your mental illness. Do this by educating yourself about your mental illness and connecting with individuals dealing with the same condition. This can help you overcome self-judgment and find ways to cope with the illness head-on. 

2. Dive Into Hobbies

Whether that’s cooking, playing chess, or embellishing a room with a new coat of paint, doing what makes you feel good can be wonderful for your mental health. Adopting a new hobby can give a boost of self-confidence and can help you get through tough times a bit easier. 

If you feel comfortable, consider engaging in activities with friends and family. This can encourage you to continuously keep in touch with loved ones—relationships that are crucial to improving your mental health. 

The most popular hobbies for veterans who are coping with stress include: 

• Creative art
• Music 
• Running
• Gardening
• Camping

3. Seek Treatment

Mental illnesses can often be chronic and ongoing treatment may be required. It takes a lot of strength and courage to ask for help – it is important to remember that your value as a person does not diminish because you have a mental health condition or if you seek help. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Mental health concerns are real struggles, not signs of weakness or moral failings. 

Just got the rating today for my mental health claim at 70%!! My psych provider’s IMO was the key for success and it was my only evidence provided to the VA!! Will definitely use you guys again and will refer to other veterans!!

Sparking a discussion with a health professional about your mental illness to find ways to cope with your condition is a great place to start. Whether this involves medicine, therapy, diet and lifestyle changes, or some other form of treatment, your health care provider or therapist can help you create a long-term plan that will be beneficial for you and your lifestyle.

A great way to track your progress with a new regimen or medication (as recommended by your therapist or health care professional) is to keep a log of how you’re feeling from day to day. Keeping a journal can help you identify if a treatment is working well, and it can assist you in monitoring your progress, behavior, and mood. 

Keep in mind that the path to mental wellbeing is not a one-size-fits-all process. Mental health treatments can be as individual and unique as the person that they’re intended for. There are many options to choose from so don’t be afraid to try a few different treatment styles before you find the one that fits best for you. 

4. Do Your Best to Not Compare Yourself to Others

Since mental health treatment is different for everyone, it’s important to not compare your own mental health journey to that of someone else’s. Everyone grows and heals at their own pace, and we all have different reasons for seeking out mental health care. The most important thing to remember is to give yourself grace and go easy on yourself – healing is not always linear and can take time. Celebrate the small victories and focus on doing the next right thing for you.

5. Talk about Your Feelings

Regularly check in with yourself and express what you’re feeling and thinking – either with a trusted friend of family member or a therapist. Expressing emotions is a sign of strength, not weakness, and walking through your thoughts and feelings can have a profound impact on your mental health. 

Your experiences are real, and they deserve to be validated; both by yourself and by those you surround yourself with. 

A few ways you can express your emotions is by:

• Talking to a trusted friend or family member: Bottling up your feelings can put physical stress on the body, produce feelings of isolation, and promote unhealthy coping mechanisms. Sit down with or call a trusted friend or family member regularly. Simply having them listen can help you feel more at ease. As you let go of some emotions, this can create space for more positive feelings.
• Writing in a journal: Journaling is a healthy way to explore your thoughts and let go of negative thought patterns and unwanted feelings. Don’t overthink your entries—just write whatever comes to mind. You may also want to write out words of affirmation to help you stay positive and focused. 

6. Stay Active

Taking time to get some form of physical activity each day can be highly beneficial.

Start slow, if needed. You might begin by taking a stroll through your local park for 15 minutes. When you feel comfortable enough, increase the duration to 30 minutes. 

If one activity starts to feel dull or repetitive, switch to a new one, or begin diversifying your exercise routine. Or, consider listening to podcasts or audiobooks to keep yourself mentally engaged during activities. You can also bring someone along with you, both to enjoy pleasant conversation and to keep yourself accountable.

The goal of staying active should be to move your body, get some sunshine, and get the blood flowing. Being active can help you feel better in mind, body, and spirit.

Medical Evidence Wins VA Claims

If you are a veteran dealing with mental illness, schedule a Telemedica evaluation. Our team at Telemedica offers psych evaluations through telehealth appointments. We offer Nexus Letters, Mental Health Evaluations, and Telemedicine Evaluations (first-time diagnoses) so veterans can receive the VA benefits and compensation they deserve and take another step forward on their path to mental and physical wellbeing.

Table of Contents

• 1. Listen to Your Emotions
  • How to Help a Family Member with Mental Illness
• 2. Look After Yourself
• 3. Reach out to Someone You Trust
• 4. Find Resources to Help You Cope
  • Support Groups
• Don’t Give Up
• Seek Help Today

Veterans and their families are no strangers to loss, but the most devastating losses are the ones that feel like they could have been prevented. Often, when a loved one takes their life, those close to them feel personally responsible—that if only they had known how hard their loved one was struggling, or if they had only done more to help them, they will still be around.

Grief is difficult to handle under the best of circumstances, but survivor’s guilt can make the pain unbearable.

At Telemedica, we hope that no one has to face these difficult feelings and experiences without help. That’s why we’ve put together this post explaining how to cope with the suicide of a loved one. As navigating through the time after a loss can feel overwhelming, we hope these recommendations will help you find your path to healing.

1. Listen to Your Emotions

How to Help a Family Member with Mental Illness

Instead of avoiding, ignoring, or otherwise “bottling up” these feelings, pay attention to them and accept them. They will come and go throughout your journey of healing, and working through them can help you heal.

These emotions may include one or more of the following: 

• Shock: Feelings of numbness or detachment from reality are common responses to loss.
• Denial: You may refuse to accept your loved one’s death. This may change over time as you acquire more information. 
• Guilt: Feelings of guilt are common, especially when the loss is a suicide. It’s natural to blame yourself, rather than accepting that some things are out of your control.
• Sadness: Memories and reminders of the loved one can trigger sadness, hopelessness, and bitterness.
• Anger: It’s common to feel a sense of abandonment, and a resentment to either the person you’ve lost or the circumstances of that loss. Those emotions often express themselves as anger, and can be directed at any number of points both internal and external.
• Confusion: There will likely be unanswered questions, which may compel you to try and make sense of the situation, even when there’s little that’s logical about the loss.

2. Look After Yourself

Every person is different, so take your time, and don’t expect recovery to meet some kind of deadline. 

Take note and respect your boundaries by:

Not rushing yourself: Do what is right for you. Do not feel inclined to do something for someone else’s sake. It’s essential to listen to your mind and body at this time and do what is comfortable. For example, if you don’t feel ready to visit the gravesite of your loved one, it’s okay to wait until you are ready.

Grieving in your own way. Some days will be better than others, and this is okay. Healing after the suicide of a loved one is not a linear path. There will be roadblocks that cause emotions to resurface, making you feel like you’ve slipped backward in your healing journey. Whatever happens, be patient with yourself. Instead of feeling frustrated, acknowledge that this is all part of the healing process and give yourself grace.

Taking the time to focus on you. It can feel impossible to make room for yourself when you’re consumed with loss and grief. Carve out time each day to eat well, take a walk, get a healthy amount of sleep, and do other things that constitute healthy self care for you. Just remember that too much of any self care tactic can be counter productive, so keep things in balance.

3. Reach out to Someone You Trust

That’s why it helps to talk to someone you trust. Connecting with others can help you feel less isolated, assure you that others share your pain, and remind you that there are people who will always be there for you. 

Make sure that you share your feelings with someone who will be supportive, and who will encourage healthy coping habits (and discourage unhealthy ones). If people who meet those standards seem to be in short supply in your life, consider reaching out to a licensed counselor or therapist. 

Not only will such a professional offer an optimistic and objective outside perspective, they will have experience and training assisting people through difficult experiences like yours. You may even find that they provide you with the tools needed to heal from emotional wounds you weren’t even aware of before the loss.

And lastly, if you are not ready to talk to people, that’s okay too. You may still find comfort in spending time with close family and friends, even if you don’t talk about the loss, or don’t talk about anything at all. Sometimes, it can help to simply have a shoulder to lean on. 

4. Find Resources to Help You Cope

It can also make it challenging to acknowledge your emotions and authentically communicate those feelings. 

Rest assured, there are resources to help you grieve in your own way and feel better supported during this time. 

Support Groups

• Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors: Nonprofit organization Alliance of Hope aims to offer support resources on survivor experience. Some of their services entail guides on how to cope with suicide, online forums, and consultations with loss professionals. 
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): The AFSP has a local chapter in all 50 states. They connect those who have lost loved ones to suicide and those struggling with suicidal ideation to local support groups and outreach programs. 
• VA Office of Survivors Assistance: The VA offers resources for survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and service members. Some of these resources include bereavement and readjustment counseling. 
• Stop Soldier Suicide: Stop Soldier Suicide leads the fight against veteran suicide. They offer support to veterans who are struggling after their time in the service. If you are interested in helping veterans, learn about how you can support the organization. 

Don’t Give Up

If you are experiencing these same feelings, please seek help.

Loss is painful, but there is always hope that things can get better over time. Your life has value, especially to those that love you, and the loss of even a single member of any community is a tragedy. 

Just take everything one day at a time; no storm can last forever. 

Seek Help Today

We understand life may seem difficult at the moment, but rest assured, it will get easier with time. You are not alone, and you don’t have to face these challenges on your own. And if you are in need of support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We can point you toward the right resources, and help you access the benefits you need. 

Table of Contents

• More than a Downer Mood: How to Recognize Depression in Yourself
  • 1. Loss of Interest in Activities
  • 2. Changes In Sleep
  • 3. Loss of Energy
  • 4. Sustained Self-loathing
  • 5. Appetite or Weight Changes
  • Get Help Today

More than a Downer Mood: How to Recognize Depression in Yourself

Some people may casually say they’re feeling depressed when they have a rough day or feel down, but clinical depression goes deeper than that. Depression can slowly dampen many aspects of your life, and you might not even notice it yourself. 

Depression isn’t just a mood; it’s a persistent illness—one that can sneak up on you and overwhelm you before you even realize something is amiss. In fact, it’s common for patients living with depression to minimize or disregard their symptoms, assuming it’s something they can just push through. The truth is that depression can worsen over time if left untreated, and can make everyday tasks and routines more challenging. 

Due to the fact that depression is often overlooked by those living with this mental illness, you might be wondering, “Do I have depression?” or even “How do I know if I have depression?”

Here we cover the five major symptoms of depression so you can know how to recognize depression in yourself, and seek out professional help for this serious condition.

1. Loss of Interest in Activities

Should you suddenly find yourself actively avoiding things that used to bring you excitement and satisfaction—be that hobbies, social activities, entertainment, sex, or otherwise—you may be experiencing anhedonia, a sign that your neurochemistry has changed and the pleasure centers of your brain are being hijacked by depression. 

2. Changes In Sleep

A single incident of unusual sleep patterns is not necessarily a cause for concern. But, just like loss of interest in activities, when uncharacteristic sleep habits persist, it’s not something to be overlooked. 

Depression can significantly alter your sleep schedule in either direction. You may notice you’re having difficulty sleeping, or that you sleep much longer than before. Or worse, you deal with both: struggling against insomnia during normal rest hours, and struggling to stay awake during your normal active periods.  

Inconsistent sleep patterns  can be hard to measure over long periods of time, and it’s easy to forget how well you slept over the past several weeks if you don’t write it down. So, if you’re worried you may be dealing with ongoing sleep issues, try tracking it with a sleep log, and be as accurate as possible. 

3. Loss of Energy

Even with a perfect sleep schedule and diet, depression can drain your energy levels. Trying to do simple tasks, like bathing, folding laundry, or doing the dishes, will feel like climbing Mt. Everest. A complete lack of energy is a strong sign you could be experiencing a major depressive episode. 

4. Sustained Self-loathing

It’s normal to feel like kicking yourself for mistakes like this. Most of the time, however, these feelings fade in short order, and life returns to normal.

It only becomes a problem when you can’t make these feelings “leave you alone.”

Self-loathing is the irrational and sustained harsh criticism of oneself. Even if your entire week went exactly as planned, the story you’re telling yourself is one of low self-esteem and self-worth. When this happens, your internal monologue becomes increasingly negative because of your perceived imperfection. 

Those feelings aren’t a reflection of your actual worth, but they can feel very real, and they could be a sign of a developing or worsening  depression.

5. Appetite or Weight Changes

Depression can also trigger a loss of appetite. In the same way you might lose interest in hobbies and pastimes, you may find that eating just doesn’t appeal to you (and you may even find yourself missing meals by accident). In some cases, you’ll skip meals because the idea of eating is nauseating. 

If it becomes a chore to eat, it might be a sign you’re dealing with depression. More specifically, gaining or losing more than 5% of your body weight in a month unintentionally can be a sign of depression.

Get Help Today

Now that you have a better understanding of  how to recognize depression in yourself, it’s important to seek professional help. Awareness is the first step and you don’t have to fight depression alone. 

Depression will try to convince you that you’re alone in your mental health struggles, but don’t let your mind deceive you.

Your life matters and there are people waiting to help. Talk to compassionate and trustworthy friends and family members, and seek professional help if these signs and symptoms of depression have been lasting longer than a month. The outlook may look bleak now, but this is a fight you can win, and you don’t have to do it alone. 

For more information and resources on how to recognize depression in yourself, how to cope with depression, or to seek mental health help from a licensed professional, visit the online resource Mental Health First Aid (from The National Council for Mental Wellbeing). 

For additional help, veterans can contact Telemedica for a Mental Health Evaluation by clicking here.