Welcome Home: War Heroes’ New Battle for Healthy Family Lives

The declared close of the Iraq war in December has brought thousands of Americans the long-awaited return of loved ones who have bravely served overseas. These reunions can bring indescribable joy to military families as well as many challenges. Service members may have suffered combat wounds, traumatic brain injuries, or mental and emotional scars—and some paid the ultimate price. However, all of them will carry the invisible wounds of war with them, as will their families who have served alongside them from home.

In November, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) reported that over 1.2 million veterans have sought treatment for PTSD and other mental health-related issues within the past few years. This unprecedented number of cases has affected the VA’s already overloaded health care system, which in turn cannot adequately meet the needs of veterans. With the return of even more troops from recent service, the number of veterans needing mental health treatment is expected to grow exponentially. Most counselors are overbooked or unfamiliar with a warrior’s lifestyle, and veteran patients can slip through the cracks, resulting in their discontinuing treatment after a first attempt. Add feelings of stigmatization, and you have veterans carrying home the heavy burden of their conditions. As the conditions worsen over time, family health crises develop. Young children in particular experience emotional changes during their parents’ deployment and reintegration. Military families are expected to rail against the perils of war, while continuing to be warriors on their own in the civilian world.

But veterans can find solace in the people who understand them and their unique experiences: other veterans. Nonprofit organizations like Vets 4 Vets and TAPS give veterans and their families access to peer support, services, and resources. Vets4Warriors comprises a free 24/7 national crisis hotline for all members of the military. According to growing reports, veteran peer-support is becoming one of the most successful outreach services for veterans and their families, helping to overcome invisible wounds.

There are dozens of free resources that parents can utilize to improve their own emotional health, harness positive relationships in the home, and help build resiliency in their children during transitional periods. Although parental separation and reintegration may create anxiety or confusion in children, parents must commit to nurturing their children’s ongoing emotional development.

Military parents at home or overseas can connect with their children through the fun, interactive educational Web site, FOCUS, where they can regularly exchange letters, photos, and live Web videos. Other coping mechanisms for children include journaling, regular family dinners, and interaction with other children in an accepting atmosphere. Operation Military Kids offers children a seasonal camp that helps them bond, share, and learn alongside their peers while better understanding the ongoing presence of a deployed parent’s love even during separation, relocation, or redeployment.

For the unforeseen stressors that military families face as they move forward through life and its tough decisions, both parents must be aware of the risks that they and their children face and guard against them by using preventive tools. If you are a military family member or are close to someone who is, become familiar with the resources around you:  neighbors, friends, relatives, and even perfect strangers who are ready to be at your side to give you a lifetime of gratitude for your service.