The Lingering Stress of War for Military Families

This week The Takeaway is exploring the individual and collective experience of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in America as we enter the long aftermath of two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve noted that more than 1 in 5 of the 2 million-plus combat veterans from those wars suffer from some symptoms of PTSD.  Last year alone, 349 military personnel committed suicide–close to one a day–a number that exceeds the number of combat deaths in Afghanistan last year, which stood at 295.While there are many reasons behind those suicides, the stress of war lingers not just with our veterans but with their families as well.Take Vivian Greentree, Director of Research and Policy for Blue Star Families, for example. Vivian’s husband Mike is frequently on deployment. Their son M.J. sees many families who deal with issues related to PTSD, and they themselves, like all military families, constantly deal with the daily stresses of military life. Vivian and M.J. join the program to share their experience.
Watch a video interview with Vivian here: