The Veteran Affairs Appropriation Act on Reducing The Veteran PTSD Care Dilemma

By Benson P.

Abstract

The prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) remains a significant issue for returning U.S. veterans as they face severe psychological repercussions in everyday life. Despite this, veterans are unable to receive proper treatment for their conditions and would suffer from worsening symptoms. This begs the question: How can mental health programs for veterans be improved to ensure timely access to effective treatment for PTSD? In this paper, internalized stigma is seen to directly contribute to the undertreatment of PTSD as veterans are reluctant to seek treatment given their lack of awareness of their symptoms. Despite the rising costs of available PTSD treatments, the effectiveness of it remains inadequate as patients saw poor results in mitigating symptoms during and after treatment. However, targeted allocation of the Veteran Affairs (VA) Appropriations Act could address these issues with its potential to expand research, access to specialized care, and comprehensive support services.

Keywords: mental health, PTSD, stigma, treatment, veteran affairs (VA), VA Appropriations Act 

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Summary: Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) face severe mental adversities in their daily lives, yet the majority of those affected do not have access to adequate treatment. About 200,000 Vietnam War veterans and 13% of War on Terror veterans still suffer from PTSD and many wait months to receive their treatment (Sifferlin; Killie). This delay in receiving proper treatment leads to the suicide of roughly 20 veterans daily, amounting to over 60,000 in the past decade (Korb). Currently, the costs of veterans’ healthcare are expected to exponentially increase within the next decades, potentially causing a significant federal deficit.

Internalized stigma serves as a major barrier that prevents veterans from seeking PTSD treatment and creating therapeutic relationships. Veterans deny associating themselves with these negative labels surrounding PTSD and would deter themselves from seeking assistance, contributing to the undertreatment of their conditions. Costs of PTSD treatments are rapidly increasing with symptoms worsening over time, creating a substantial economic burden for the U.S. government. Consuming 46% of the Veteran Affairs’ budget, PTSD treatment exceeds nearly a billion dollars and is continuously increasing as the years go by. Despite these high expenses, treatment effectiveness remains inadequate as studies reveal low success rates on minimizing symptoms due to it not addressing the root causes of PTSD.

Proposed in 2023, Senator Patty Murray’s Veteran Affairs (VA) Appropriations Act plans to invest over $300 billion to ensure health services for U.S. veterans. For maximum effectiveness of this act, congress must strategically allocate its budget. This holistic approach is the most promising solution as it offers enhanced research, greater access to specialized healthcare, and comprehensive support services. By funding research, further exploration on possible effective treatments can be promoted as researchers would gain access to the required technology. Increasing veterans’ access to healthcare through the VA Appropriations Act ensures timely care for their conditions. Furthermore, directing a portion of the budget towards peer support programs can help mitigate stigma and encourage veterans to seek treatment.