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Combat Veterans, PTSD and Domestic Violence - A Sometimes Deadly Combination |
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December 18, 2008
Combat Veterans, PTSD and Domestic Violence - A Sometimes Deadly Combination
Domestic Violence a Growing Problem for Veterans
“The increasing number of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] raises the risk of domestic violence and its consequences on families and children in communities across the United States,” says Monica Matthieu, Ph.D., an expert on veteran mental health and an assistant professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis. “Treatments for domestic violence are very different than those for PTSD. The Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] has mental health services and treatments for PTSD, yet these services need to be combined with the specialized domestic violence intervention programs offered by community agencies for those veterans engaging in battering behavior against intimate partners and families.”
Matthieu and Peter Hovmand, Ph.D., a domestic violence expert and an assistant professor of social work at Washington University, are merging their research interests and working to design community prevention strategies to address this emerging public health problem.
“The increasing prevalence of traumatic brain injury and substance use disorders along with PTSD among veterans poses some unique challenges to existing community responses to domestic violence,” says Hovmand. “Community responses to domestic violence must be adapted to respond to the increasing number of veterans with PTSD. This includes veterans with young families and older veterans with chronic mental health issues.”
VA research shows that male veterans with PTSD are two to three times more likely than veterans without PTSD to engage in intimate partner violence and more likely to be involved in the legal system.
— Source: Washington University in St. Louis
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October, 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The intent was to connect battered women’s advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became a special week when a range of activities were conducted at the local, state, and national levels. Read more...
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News and Announcements
Letter to the Editor February 27th, 2010
From Linda Darin , President of Pinellas NOW
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