Soldiers returning to the U.S. from war zones may initially report few problems, but as time passes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol problems and a host of other mental health issues could become serious concerns for returning soldiers, their families, and their employers. Typically, when a veteran returns home from a war zone, there is a period of euphoria that may mask developing problems brought on by PTSD. As returning soldiers settle back into their pre-deployment lives, stress and emotional problems become more evident. Employers can help veterans returning to work by ensuring that effective screening and intervention programs are available.

A recent study published in JAMA found that war-related substance use and mental health problems are likely to show up several months after returning home rather than just after the initial homecoming. Nearly 12 percent of active-duty and 15 percent of reservists had signs of alcoholism six months after returning from combat but less than one percent were referred to treatment. In addition, reservists who returned to civilian status had higher rates of mental health problems, and alcohol-related problems than their active-duty counterparts.¹

Screening for mental health and substance use problems can play an important role in identifying PTSD. According to the National Center for PTSD, people with PTSD are more likely to have alcohol use disorders. Likewise, people with alcohol use disorder often have PTSD. In fact, 60 to 80 percent of Vietnam veterans who sought treatment for PTSD also had alcohol use disorders.²

As part of welcoming veterans back to work, employers can encourage returning veterans to use company health benefits—like employee assistance programs and mental health care—to support healthy emotional responses to stress. Mental Health America provides the following tips to help employers and their veteran employees cope with returning to work:³

• Create a welcoming environment by discussing any concerns with all staff prior to the employee’s return.
  

• Update the employee as soon as possible on the status of the workload and any other changes that occurred during deployment.
  

• Give the employee time to readjust and get back into their previous routine while encouraging them to seek out guidance and support, as needed.
  

• Support the employee if re-employment proves difficult by talking about performance expectations and listening to the employee’s concerns. Be prepared to offer additional career or health referrals if necessary.

Footnotes:
¹ Milliken CS, Auchterlonie JL, and Hoge CW. Longitudinal assessment of mental health problems among active and reserve component soldiers returning from the iraq war. JAMA. 2007;298(18): 2141-2148. Available at: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/298/18/2141.
² U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD and Problems with Alcohol Use (Fact Sheet). Available at: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_alcohol.html. Last reviewed and updated May 22, 2007. Accessed on November 28, 2007.
³ Mental Health America, Operation Healthy Reunions. Returning to Work (Fact Sheet). Available at: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reunions/infoReturnWork.cfm. Accessed on November 28, 2007.