Assessment
The targeted population is characterized by veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans with PTSD encounter a wide range of health problems such as suicidal thoughts, depression, and social problems. Statistics indicate that over 10 percent of veterans tend to portray signs of PTSD. Women have higher chances of portraying such signs. The affected individuals face different health problems that make their lives unbearable. The occurrence of such problems calls for various policies to assist these veterans. The targeted health needs include mental support and counseling for the affected veterans.
Policy Development
Veterans encounter a wide range of struggles and stresses especially after combat. Such stresses make it impossible for the veterans to have quality lives. Different policies have been created (or proposed) in order to address the unique issues affecting the targeted population. The first policy is the Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act. The role of this policy is to ensure the mental health needs of every soldier are assessed frequently. The policy ensures every affected individual gets the best treatment. The second policy is the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. The policy requires that various mental health care and various suicide prevention programs are evaluated annually. The ultimate goal is to ensure more people have better mental care. The National Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (DV/IPV) was implemented as a trauma-informed-care approach to IPV availed by the VHA. The project establishes positive relationships with different facilities to ensure individuals with PTSD get the required support.
It is agreeable that such programs have a number of benefits and disadvantages. To begin with, these programs have the potential to minimize the health problems and challenges affecting postwar soldiers. The programs also bring together professionals and experts in order to offer the best support to veterans. With proper support and management, such programs can continue to support the changing needs of many veterans in the country. However, most of the coordinators, counselors, and health workers supporting these patients lack the required military experience. As a result, such caregivers and social workers do not understand the major health issues affecting these veterans. Some of these programs are also poorly managed. This situation makes it impossible for them to address the health needs and mental requirements of many veterans.
Assurance
The most important objective is to ensure the health needs of the selected population are addressed. Public health nurses can therefore identify veterans with various health needs and encourage them to get quality medical support from the right professionals. Such workers should embraced culturally-competent, holistic, and evidence-based approaches in order to deliver individualized support to every veteran. Some examples of these health issues include depression and mental diseases. Some programs have been implemented in order to meet the mental needs of these veterans. The Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act is a powerful program that addresses the mental issues affecting veterans. The National Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program also identifies and supports veterans with PTSD. The program also focuses on intimate-partner-abuse and alcoholism. The program attracts different stakeholders in order to deliver quality services to every veteran. Finally, counseling and social support programs should be introduced in order to address the health needs of more veterans. Social workers, therapists, physicians, community members, and psychiatrists should be part of such social support programs. This move will ensure such programs address the problem of PTSD.