Civil War Veterans diagnosed with "Soldier's Heart"
Past Names for PTSD
Symptoms for the condition included being easily startled and hyper-vigilant.
WWI Veterans diagnosed with "Shell Shock"
Past Names for PTSD
Symptoms for Shell Shock included tiredness, irritability, headaches and lack of concentration. The only cure for the condition was thought to be complete removal from the battlefield.
WWII Veterans diagnosed with "Battle Fatigue"
Complete definition
Battle Fatigue was defined as a "psychological disorder that develops in some individuals who have had major traumatic experiences."
Vietnam Veterans diagnosed with "Post-Vietnam Syndrome"
Definition
Post-Vietnam Syndrome was found in 20 to 60 percent of veterans. Symptoms included nightmares, flashbacks, guilt, rage and depression.
First diagnostic criteria for PTSD published
Overview of PTSD
The American Psychiatric Association coined the term "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," and published the first diagnostic criteria for it.
Congressionally-mandated National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment study conducted
Findings from the National Vietnam Veterans' Readjustment Study
The U.S. Congress mandated an investigation of PTSD and other postwar psychological problems in order to better address the needs of military veterans. The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment study found that 35 percent of male veterans and 17 percent of female veterans suffered from PTSD.
September 11
Complete 9/11 Commission Report
Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger jets and flew them into the World Trade Centers, Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, PA (intended target was Washington D.C.). Almost 3,000 people were killed in the attacks that launched America's "War on Terror."
Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan (OEF) began
Transcript of President Bush's Speech
President Bush declared the goals of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan to be the dismantling of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization and removing the Taliban regime from power.
Tragic killings brings PTSD back into the media spotlight
NY Times News Report
The increasing prevalence and seriousness of PTSD hit the media spotlight when four veterans killed their wives and two then committed suicide in Fort Bragg, NC over a 6-week period. These killings raised concern about the amount of stress soldiers endure as they adjust to civilian life post-deployment.
MHAT FAQsThe first Mental Health Advisory Team (MHAT) was formed by the Office of the Surgeon General to assess the mental and behavioral health of US troops serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) founded
IAVA's Mission and History
Paul Rieckhoff, an OIF veteran and 9/11 first-responder, founded IAVA as the nation’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan group for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Rieckhoff’s vision for IAVA was to give veterans a means for expressing their needs and challenges they face.
First study of the mental health of Operation Iraqi Freedom war vets published
News ReportThe results of the first mental health survey of 6,201 active duty service members who fought in Iraq were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The anonymous survey revealed that about one in eight service members have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. However, only about 40 percent of those with mental health disorders were interested in getting help, and 23 to 40 percent reported having actually seen someone for help.
The US Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) Mental Health Strategic Plan finalized
The plan ordered a complete overhaul of the VA's mental health care system within five years.
Final Bill Text
Named for a solider who committed suicide after returning home from Iraq, this act required the development of a new comprehensive VA program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.
VA Office of Inspector General released report on the Mental Health Strategic Plan
Copy of the Final Report
The report concluded that many components of the Mental Health Strategic Plan, including those relating to suicide reduction, had not been implemented.
RAND study results released
Invisible Wounds of War ProjectThe first large-scale, nongovernmental assessment of the psychological and cognitive needs of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans revealed that nearly 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans screen positive for PTSD or depression. The report recommended that the military create a system that would allow service members to receive mental health services confidentially in order to ease concerns about negative career repercussions.
Department of Defense changed government security clearance policy
DOD Press ReleaseIn an effort to increase the amount of troops who seek help for mental health issues, the Department of Defense announced that it would remove the question on their security clearance application forms asking if the applicant had sought mental health care in the past seven years.
"A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE (Bill of Rights for American Veterans)
About the Show
IAVA teamed up with MTV to host “A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE (Bill of Rights for American Veterans).” The concert featured 50 Cent, Kid Rock and Beyonce, and was an effort to launch a petition to call attention to the most urgent issues facing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
IAVA and Ad Council launched national outreach campaign for veterans
Overview
The campaign is a multiyear effort to alleviate the readjustment for service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan by encouraging veterans to join the Community of Veterans (COV), a private social network where veterans can post their stories in a safe forum and access other resources to aid them in their adjustment back to civilian life.
IAVA expanded national outreach campaign to engage friends and families of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans
www.supportyourvet.org
The expanded campaign included PSAs directing friends and family members of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans to a website featuring tools to help their veteran transition to civilian life.
Paul Reickhoff appeared on the Colbert Report
Video Clip
Paul Reickhoff appeared on the Colbert Report to promote the new Friends & Family campaign and website (www.SupportYourVet.org). His appearance increased the number of visitors to the Community of Veterans website from 6,889 visitors on May 5th to 31,876 visitors on May 6th.
National Institute of Mental Health launched Army study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service Members (Army STARRS)
Study's Official Website
Army STARRS is the largest study of suicide and mental health among military personnel ever undertaken. With $50 million in funding from the U.S. Army, the 5-year study is designed to assist the army in developing ongoing health promotion, risk reduction, and suicide prevention efforts.
2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed
OverviewThe act required the DOD to conduct confidential face-to-face mental health screenings by a certified professional for every service member returning from combat.
VA introduced a new streamlined system for soldiers to seek help and file claims for PTSD
News Report
Under the new streamlined system, veterans no longer have to document a specific traumatic event in order to demonstrate that they should be treated or receive disability payments for PTSD.
DOD announced that suicides in the National Guard doubled in 2010
News Report
The figures indicated that on average a U.S. service member commits suicide every 36 hours.
IAVA awarded a gold Ogilvy award for the PSA "Alone"
PSA
The Advertising Research Foundation’s distinguished Ogilvy awards are named after advertising legend David Ogilvy. According to the Ogilvy award webpage, the awards are meant to "honor extraordinary and creative uses of research to build impactful advertising campaigns."
President Obama announced the beginning of US military withdrawals from Afghanistan
News Report
According to a statement by President Obama, 33,000 troops are expected to come home by the end of summer 2012. In addition, NATO has agreed to turn over security responsibilities to the Afghan government by 2014.
IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff testified before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
Video
Ahead of the large-scale troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan, the hearing on "Examining the Lifetime Costs of Supporting the Newest Generation of Veterans" analyzed the long-term impact of the wars and how the public and private sectors can join forces to support new veterans during their initial transition.
IAVA leaders featured on TIME magazine cover
TIME Magazine Article
IAVA was mentioned in an article titled, "The New Greatest Generation" that honored key players in the new 21st century veterans’ movement to better the lives of military veterans and their families, in honor of their service and dedication to our country.
VA survey of social workers, nurses and doctors results released
News Report
The survey of social workers, nurses and doctors working for the VA revealed that 70 percent of respondents think the department lacks the staff and space to meet the needs of growing numbers of veterans seeking mental health care.
Obama announced that all US Armed Forces will be removed from Iraq by the end of the year
News Report
“After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over,” Obama said.
