Noteboom The Law Firm

War Trauma Affects Veterans’ Children

December 17, 2010 - Veterans returning to the United States following deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan are returning with psychiatric problems on a level never before considered. Along with just about everyone else, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) did not expect mental trauma at this level and in numbers this high. They were woefully underprepared to handle what became their immediate reality.

The VA has been in a constant game of catch-up, and has made considerable growth in their treatment for veterans with disabling mental conditions. Veterans' families and dependants, however, do not usually qualify for VA mental-health benefits through the VA health care system. Veterans made the choice to risk their lives for their country, but that choice is affecting their children in very negative ways.  

Children process change mentally much differently than adults. When children are made to suffer changes in their environments, their mental health is affected much more than adults. Veterans returning from deployments suffering from mental health issues can cause serious and emotionally damaging changes to their children's immediate environment, which in turn can cause mental health issues for those children.

The average age of soldiers fighting in World War II was 18. The average age of soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan is 27, and is much more likely to be married with children. Further, veterans involved in these current wars survive injuries that would have likely resulted in the death of WW II-era soldiers. This means there many more soldiers cycling back to the U.S. after having survived what most would consider overwhelming and incapacitating injuries.

Watching parents experience intense emotions will usually breed confusion and fear in children. Children may start to question their parents' fitness for taking care of them. Should those parents spend all their energy attempting to go numb so as to not re-experience intense emotions, those parents can come off cold and indifferent to their children.

Some children will develop symptoms similar to their parents. Other children will eventually become victims to the parents' domestic violence. Other children will develop their own mental trauma based on watching their parents' trauma. There is still much research to be done on veterans' mental disorders, but that research should include more than just the veterans.