Veteran's and Military Health

Since it is the Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to say a big thank you to all our military--veterans and those currently in the active military or reserves. Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made to protect our country.

Since there are many health issues related to military service, I wanted to provide a link to some great information from the National Library of Medicine. There is a MedlinePlus Veterans and Military Health page that has links to great information on topics such as agent orange, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and much more. If you know anyone who is or was in the military and is having health issues, please pass the link on to them.

Thank you again to our wonderful military!

Kids of Deployed Parents May Face Mental Health Risks

I just read a news story about a recent study that found that children whose parents are deployed in Afghanistan or Iraq face a higher risk of psychiatric problems requiring hospitalization, a new study indicates.

Researchers from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences tracked over 375,000 children, aged 9 to 17, whose parents were on active duty between 2007 and 2009.

"There was a 10 percent increased risk of hospitalization among children 9 to 17 whose parents were deployed," said Dr. Jeffrey Millegan, disaster and preventive psychiatry fellow at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

I found some really great links that provide all kinds of useful information for kids and adults as well.

Coloring Book Pages for Kids(National Center for PTSD) – PDF

Military Kids: Responding to Their Grief(American Hospice Foundation)

Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment(Sesame Workshop)

When Loved Ones Go to War(Nemours Foundation)

What Military Families Should Know About Depression(Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress) - PDF

Families in the Military (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) – PDF

U.S. Army HOOAH4HEALTH: Family Matters(U.S. Army Medical Dept.)

The Emotional Cycles of Deployment

Deployment Guide