PTSD in Vietnam
"Imagine if you had just graduated out of high school and were sent to a guerrilla warfare far away from your home. During the war, you were exposed to a lot of stress, confusion, anxiety, pain, and hatred. Then you were sent back home with no readjustment to the lifestyle in the states, no deprogramming of what you learned from the military, and no "welcome home" parades. You are portrayed to the public as a crazed psychopathic killer with no morals or control over your aggression. You find that there's nobody you can talk to or who can understand what you've been through, not even your family. As you re-emerge into civilization, you struggle to establish a personal identity or a place in society because you lack the proper education and job skills. In addition, there are no supportive groups to help you find your way, which makes you feel even more isolated, unappreciated, and exploited for serving your country." - Kenrick Thompson
Our soldiers have been brave but many of them have returned with physical and emotional injuries that have made it difficult to transition back to civilian life. Some estimates state that as many as 20% of returning military veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Our soldiers have been brave but many of them have returned with physical and emotional injuries that have made it difficult to transition back to civilian life. Some estimates state that as many as 20% of returning military veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Statistics on PTSD in Vietnam Veterans
1. 15.2% of male veterans and 8.5% of female veterans meet the definitions of suffering from current PTSD from actions taken or experienced in the theater of war.
2. Those with high levels of war-zone exposure had significantly higher rates, with 35.8% of men and 17.5% of women meeting criteria for current PTSD.
3. 80%. That’s the percentage of Vietnam veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD up to 25 years ago and are still experiencing symptoms from it.
4. The percentage of Vietnam veterans who were unable to transition successfully back into public life after the war: 15%.
5. Vietnam veterans are 3x more likely to be suffering from PTSD than veterans of the Gulf War or the war in Afghanistan.
6. The total number of veterans from Vietnam that have been diagnosed with PTSD after their service: 479,610.
7. Almost 50% of all male Vietnam veterans suffering from PTSD have been arrested or in jail at least once since their service.
8. 11.5%. That’s the percentage of Vietnam vets that have been charged with a felony after their service.
9. VA statistics in 2004 showed that 161,000 veterans were still receiving disability compensation for PTSD.
10. The total number of Vietnam veterans who have been executed for crimes they have committed since the war: 6.
2. Those with high levels of war-zone exposure had significantly higher rates, with 35.8% of men and 17.5% of women meeting criteria for current PTSD.
3. 80%. That’s the percentage of Vietnam veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD up to 25 years ago and are still experiencing symptoms from it.
4. The percentage of Vietnam veterans who were unable to transition successfully back into public life after the war: 15%.
5. Vietnam veterans are 3x more likely to be suffering from PTSD than veterans of the Gulf War or the war in Afghanistan.
6. The total number of veterans from Vietnam that have been diagnosed with PTSD after their service: 479,610.
7. Almost 50% of all male Vietnam veterans suffering from PTSD have been arrested or in jail at least once since their service.
8. 11.5%. That’s the percentage of Vietnam vets that have been charged with a felony after their service.
9. VA statistics in 2004 showed that 161,000 veterans were still receiving disability compensation for PTSD.
10. The total number of Vietnam veterans who have been executed for crimes they have committed since the war: 6.