Many veterans battle Epilepsy and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to Traumatic Brain Injury. According to an article published in 2016 called Providing Quality Epilepsy Care for Veterans, more than 87,000 veterans enrolled through the VA Healthcare system have been diagnosed with epilepsy, 16 percent who have comorbid traumatic brain injury (TBI) and nearly 25 percent also have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence et. al, 2016).
The statistics were even higher for veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedeom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND), with 52.6 percent being diagnosed with TBI and 70.4 percent being diagnosed with PTSD (VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence et. al, 2016).
At The Defeating Epilepsy Foundation®, we are here to help those who have proudly served our country. Our veterans should not have to deal with the stigma associated with Epilepsy and PTSD after risking their lives to keep us safe. Through out Mental Empowerment Program, our goal is to help veterans gain the support and skills they need to have a better quality of life while battling Epilepsy. Veterans qualify for our Purple Warrior Pooches Program in helping them secure funds for a medical alert dog.
If you know a veteran with Epilepsy and/or PTSD, offer your support and let them know they are not alone. If you are a veteran or have a loved one who is, please check out the resources listed below. Please email us at info@defeatingepilepsy.org for more information or contact us at (909) 740-4461.
Article cited:
VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence, Altabib, H., Cavazos, J., Pugh, M.J., Hussain, A., Kelly-Foxworth, P., Tran, T., Krumholz, A., LaFrance, W.C., Lopez, M.R., Rutecki, P., & Van Cott, A. (2016). Providing Quality Epilepsy Care for Veterans. Federal practitioner: for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS, 33(9), 26-32.
Resources for Veterans:
Suicide Prevention (800) 273-8255, Press 1, Chat online: Text 838255
Suicide Prevention: www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/index.asp
VA Contact www.va.gov/contact-us/
Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (ECoE) www.epilepsy.va.gov
Find a VA Location www.va.gov/find-locations
Mental Health (Substance Use) www.mentalhealth.va.gov/substance-abuse/index.asp
Military Sexual Trauma www.mentalhealth.va.gov/mentalhealth/msthome/index.asp
NVISION Eye Centers, Resources for Veterans: https://www.nvisioncenters.com/education/vision-care-guide-for-veterans/
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) www.mentalhealth.va.gov/tbi/index.asp
US Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov
VA National Center for PTSD www.ptsd.va.gov
VA Prescription Refill and Tracking www.va.gov/health-care/refill-track-prescriptions/
Veterans Health Library www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/142,40157_VA
Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) www.va.gov/HEALTHBENEFITS/vtp/index.asp
Women Veterans Health Care www.womenshealth.va.gov
The Recovery Village, Free Resources for Veterans regarding addiction and mental health http://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/veterans
Veterans Guide, VA Rating for Nerve and Neurological Damage https://veteransguide.org/va-disability/ratings/nerve-and-neurological-damage/
Pawsitive for Heroes, providing service dog training for those who have served: https://pawsitiveforheroes.org/
Legal Finders: Resources for Disabled Veterans: https://www.legalfinders.com/disabled-veterans-guide/