The effects of social stigma on mental health treatment and access for United States military veterans : a focus on Indiana

Abstract

Mental health issues plague all of society but are especially prevalent within the military as the high stress job requirements and masculine culture only making these issues worse. Mental health issues have gone by many names, from war neurosis, to shellshock, and finally to post-traumatic stress disorder, but the key is that it has existed in some form or another in the military for over a century. The United States Veterans Administration has made it one of their key initiatives to combat these issues; however, they are falling short. Through the exploration of the history behind the issue and in-depth analysis of treatment options for mental health issues, not only is awareness brought to the issue, but the reader is able to extrapolate and draw conclusions in a variety of areas. These treatments could be applied to civilian sectors and populations, or thought to apply to a specific region in the United States. Within the paper, Indiana is used in this way, not only to help provide an example of this process, but also as a way to relate the information to a real world example. From all of this information, suggestions as to how to improve care and access for veterans can be drawn.