This NYHealth fact sheet lists important facts and figures regarding the heath and mental health of returning veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in the U.S. and New York State.
Close to 2 million Americans have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and according to the 2000 U.S. Census, New York is home to 1.4 million veterans. According to the 2008 RAND Invisible Wounds study, 20% of returning soldiers suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or depression.
Moreover, a 2008 study revealed that 37% of mental health professionals felt unprepared to help veterans with reintegration issues, and preliminary data from the VA suggests that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans already comprise 1.8% of the homeless veteran population, and this figure is expected to rise.