Breaking Down Barriers: PTS Awareness and Support for Veterans

Last week, we shared our experience at the 2024 VA Immersive Technology Summit. As PTS Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to highlight some challenges our Veterans face when seeking mental health interventions. By understanding these barriers, we can work together to uncover the hope that awaits them in communities across our country.

Quick Statistics:

• 41% of Veterans have a clinical mental health need.

• Only about half of all Veterans who need mental health care receive it.

• More than 1.1 million Veterans are diagnosed with at least four mental health conditions, including depression, PTS, Substance Use Disorder, and Anxiety.

• 1 in 3 Veterans struggling with substance abuse also suffer from PTS.

• Veterans diagnosed with PTS have an increased risk of suicide.

• 1 in 11 Americans will develop PTS at some point in their life.

• Military Veterans are at a higher risk of developing PTS than the general population.

• Women are twice as likely as men to develop PTS.

• 24.4 million Americans have PTS at any given moment, equaling the population of Texas.

• Regular physical movement can reduce anxiety, depression, stress, and PTS symptoms by up to 40%.

Risks and Barriers for Veterans Seeking Mental Health Intervention:

• Systemic Issues within Institutional Services:

  • Limited awareness of eligibility.

  • Exhausted resources due to complex organizational structures.

• Individual Factors and Stigma:

  • Varying opinions on VA and other health services.

  • Attitudes towards mental health treatment.

  • Stigma associated with seeking help.

  • Financial concerns.

  • Fears of firearm confiscation.

  • Employment worries and potential future employment repercussions.

  • Overwhelming personal demands.

• External Concerns and Employment Risk:

  • 33% of Veterans are deterred from seeking care due to fears of being denied work access or security clearance.

  • Confidentiality concerns.

Sometimes we have to address the hard challenges to get to the hope. I share these statistics to bring context to today’s conversation.

Veterans are a well-studied group, with the NIH, VA, and other partners conducting numerous studies on Veteran mental wellness. During Dr. Billy Rutherford’s presentation on "Immersive Technology and Rural Veterans: In Vivo Exposure," I was surprised to learn that traits like grit and determination, which help service members function in stressful environments, are often correlated with avoidance behaviors, negatively impacting long-term mental health. It is clinically proven that Veterans who avoid or compartmentalize their PTS symptoms tend to have longer-lasting symptoms. Studies show that 74% of Veterans who received therapy and interactive intervention saw dramatic improvements over two years, compared to 37% who received medication alone. The hope is clear, if Veterans seek active interventions, the majority will improve and some will even lose their PTS diagnosis. I sat with this for a while because the answer seems so easy, yet it is still extraordinarily complex.

We believe in the right to try, which is why I was so interested to learn about immersive technology, a new frontier in mental health treatment being utilized at the VA. Clinical studies show promising results with both Imaginal (internal memories and attributions) and In Vivo (external reminders and triggers) exposure therapies, coordinated with clinicians. The Summit emphasized the importance of reducing stress to improve overall health outcomes and highlighted the need to address the risks and barriers Veterans face when seeking intervention.

The presentations further highlighted the necessity for multifaceted solutions for holistic care. Not every Veteran is suitable for immersive technology; some experience extreme anxiety, cannot travel, or face long wait times, full in-patient treatments, or prohibitive costs. Stigma also remains a significant barrier to seeking help.

Enter Veteran Reality

We are working on alleviating some of the risks and barriers Veterans encounter to mental health services and intervention through Veteran Reality. Using virtual reality, our program will provide Veterans with free, on-demand access to interactive physical movement and non-traditional wellness methods sourced from active services across the nation. Veterans will be able to learn about incredible services and methods and experience them in VR. For instance, a Veteran in landlocked Oklahoma can go sailing with a support group off the coast of Corpus Christi, or a Veteran who has never experienced yoga can connect with an organization that provides this service in VR and share this experience with them and other Veterans. In our virtual world, Veterans can engage with an interactive community, seek support, and access crisis intervention, all tailored to their wellness journey.

Why Veteran Reality? It is proven that community or social engagement and physical activity can ease depression, anxiety, and stress. This is where our innovative tool comes in. It acts as a series of bridges—connecting resources to Veterans and Veterans to activities, community, and support that translate into real-world support. Once you know what is out there, it is easier to take the first step to seek mental wellness help.

Veteran Reality meets Veterans where they are on their mental health journey by offering:

• Active Virtual Reality Mental Wellness Experiences: Activities like yoga, meditation, fly fishing, and support service dogs.

• Interactive Portraits of Courage Gallery: Where Veterans define what it means to be mentally tough.

• Memorial Wall and Garden: A space to reflect and heal.

• Learning Resource Library and Community Auditorium: For engaging in lectures and learning about vast resources.

• Connection to Veterans Crisis Line: Real-world support in our virtual environment tailored for our heroes.

Together, these elements ensure that Veterans have the support they need when they need it, fostering a culture of resilience, wellness, and recovery.

By bringing these services into this tool and creating a supportive environment, we aim to better address the mental health challenges faced by Veterans, particularly those in rural areas. Mental health is not a one-size-fits-all. Veterans need access to all available resources to discover what is right for them.

What You Can Do

The most impactful action we can take is simple yet profoundly meaningful: checking in on our friends and family. A genuine conversation can make a world of difference, providing the support someone may desperately need. That is community, and that is hope.

If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. Resources like the Veterans Crisis Line and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provide anonymous, immediate assistance and guidance. Let us actively support mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and ensure that no Veteran or military member fights their battles alone. We simply believe if you have a brain, you have mental health.

Learn more about Veteran Reality at Veterans Collaborative - Our Projects.

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Written by: Natalie Worthan, Founder