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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay

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This memo recommends that the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-MI) use its resources to support Michigan House Bill 4843. This bill attempts to address the need for the increasing number of Michigan Veterans affected by psychological diagnoses and the benefits that come from utilizing service dogs to decrease effects associated with these diagnoses for Veterans to function in society. It would allow a five-year pilot program to be established to record the significance service dogs have on decreasing psychological symptoms of Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. It would also record the number of Veterans who are able to return to normal functionality within society due to utilizing a service …show more content…

A diagnosis of PTSD is often associated with2:  significant increase in the risk of depression  detachment from loved ones and society  homelessness  reckless behaviors  suicide, and drug- and alcohol-related disorders  deaths. Compared to the average citizen, combat Veterans are diagnosed with PTSD at an elevated rate. Combat Veterans are four times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD compared to the general population. With most Veterans being subjected to multiple deployments and increased traumatic events the number of combat Veterans has increased compared to past historical eras of war. More Veterans are returning from deployments and are trying to re-acclimate themselves within society but are drastically overwhelmed with the process and ill prepared to identify PTSD symptoms for what they are. In 2017, there are currently 19,998,799 veterans in the United States and Michigan’s population accounts for 589,326 of those Veterans . The war era Veterans most likely to be affected by PTSD are Vietnam and Post 9/11 Veterans. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs the following percentage of Veterans are affected by PTSD4:  Vietnam Era Veterans: 31%  Gulf War Era Veterans: 12%  Post 9/11 Era Veterans: 20% Unlike prior eras, Post 9/11 Veterans are more likely to be uninsured, unemployed and receiving welfare compared to prior groups of veterans in history which has a negative impact on the economy. The

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