Occurrence of mental health and substance use disorders among returning veterans in Indiana

Background: Combat exposure has been found to cause significant mental health problems, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in veterans. A study by Seal, Bertenthal, Miner, Sen, and Marmar (2012) suggested that nearly one-third of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan were diagnosed with mental health and/or psychosocial problems and five percent were diagnosed with a substance use disorder. What is more, mental health and substance use disorders are frequently co-occurring. However, data to estimate the prevalence of these disorders, especially at the state- or substate levels, are currently lacking. Methods: To address this gap in knowledge, the Indiana State Epidemiology and Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) identified returning veterans as a high-risk group for mental health and substance use disorders. The SEOW, which consists of representatives from state agencies all with the common goal to prevent/reduce substance abuse among the Indiana's population, will analyze data from the Richard L. Roudebush VA Hospital in Indianapolis to estimate the occurrence of mental health and substance use disorders within this population. Results: Data analyses will be carried out between March and June 2012, and key epidemiological findings will be highlighted in the presentation. Discussion: With the recent combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, addressing mental health and substance abuse needs of veterans will be a crucial. As more veterans return home, we must ensure that resources are adequately allocated to meet not only their medical but also their psychological needs.