Suicide, PTSD, and Substance Use Among OEF/OIF Veterans Using VA Health Care: Facts and Figures

Erin Bagalman
Analyst in Health Policy

On May 10, 2011, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in a case brought by two nonprofit veterans advocacy groups, Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth.1 The ruling criticized the VA’s mental health services, among other things.2 This has intensified interest in veterans’ mental health, already a topic of ongoing concern to members of Congress and their constituents.

This brief report addresses three relevant topics: suicide, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders. Using data from the VA, it answers two questions about each topic: (1) How many veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF)3 are affected? and (2) What is the VA doing, in terms of screening, prevention, and treatment?


Date of Report: July 18, 2011
Number of Pages: 10
Order Number: R41921
Price: $29.95

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