New York Veterans: Rising Disability Rates Spark an Increase in Support Seeking

Members of the color guard, from left, Karl Klonowski, Gregory S. Majesky, Joanna Rodney, and Grant Brewer, listen as President Bush addresses a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004 in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Jan 13, 2025 —

If you are experiencing mental health challenges or have considered suicide, please reach out to the national crisis hotline by calling 988, available 24/7.

Military veterans in New York are reporting disabilities at double the rate compared to fifteen years ago. This is one of the conclusions drawn from a recent report commissioned by the New York Health Foundation.

Veterans exhibit notably high levels of mental and physical health conditions, including PTSD and depression. However, the report suggests that the significant rise in reported disabilities could be attributed to veterans being more open about their struggles and actively seeking assistance.

Derek Coy of the New York Health Foundation on its report about veterans’ health services

Derek Coy, a senior program officer at the New York Health Foundation as well as a veteran of the Marines, explained to David Sommerstein that younger generations are breaking through the stigma surrounding the pursuit of counseling and other therapeutic options that have been prevalent in the military for many years. Their dialogue has been slightly modified for clarity.

DEREK COY: In the past, they may not have pursued a disability rating or VA compensation for a mental health challenge. We’ve also observed effects from The PACT Act, which marks the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in a generation. This legislation broadens the benefits for veterans potentially exposed to hazardous substances, enabling many to come forward and acknowledge their challenges while simplifying the process to claim disability compensation.

DAVID SOMMERSTEIN: Let’s explore this generational transformation you mentioned—how the stigma surrounding mental health care is diminishing. In what ways does that change how society can assist veterans in getting the necessary care?

COY: Absolutely. A point I consistently highlight is that Vietnam veterans have made significant strides in raising awareness regarding mental health and the unseen traumas of war. We are witnessing not only a decline in stigma due to the previous generations’ efforts, but also a distinctive veterans-to-veterans network, particularly in rural areas characterized by tight-knit communities and self-sufficiency, where acquaintances are common and cultural similarities prevail.

If one individual speaks out, saying, ‘I’ve been experiencing mental health challenges and seeking help, and it’s been beneficial,’ it can significantly encourage others who might have hesitated to come forward, perhaps out of fear regarding employment or security clearances while still in service.

As a result, many factors have transformed, and it is now becoming increasingly normal for individuals outside the military to admit, ‘I’m facing anxiety, I’m feeling down, or I’m experiencing emotions I don’t quite understand, and I want to discuss it with someone.’

SOMMERSTEIN: The next logical inquiry is whether these veterans are acquiring the mental health and physical medical support they require?

COY: Indeed, this is an excellent question. Unfortunately, the general situation is that they are not receiving as much care as they rightfully deserve. We have identified a nationwide shortage of mental health care providers. It’s quite challenging to locate one in general. Do they accept your insurance? Are they open for new patients? Furthermore, do they possess any military cultural competencies? Are they cognizant of the unique mental health needs veterans face? As we have observed, this is often not the case.

Consequently, there has been a notable increase in the dependency on tele-mental health services, which…

is indeed fantastic. It has the capability to offer services to remote communities, where individuals might struggle to access the VA otherwise. However, there are still numerous challenges with internet connectivity, including just cell phone service. Do you possess a dependable connection so that if you’re consulting a mental health provider through tele-mental health services, is it secure, is it capable of fulfilling the required needs? We are observing many of these problems across the board, unfortunately.

SOMMERSTEIN: This report presents various suggestions. What do you perceive is the most significant message and the foremost recommendation that would assist and provide the resources veterans are requesting?

COY: One that includes all of them and essentially paves the way for the others is increasing awareness about benefits. According to this research, veterans believe that benefits are commendable and valuable, yet they aren’t fully taking advantage of them.

There are several factors at play. One is the military ethos, where you are instructed to tolerate and push through regardless of your circumstances. This is also evident in rural communities, where there’s an ethos of self-sufficiency and resilience associated with being able to manage independently. Nevertheless, there are numerous benefits available that veterans either aren’t aware they can access or simply feel that, ‘hey, perhaps some other veterans have it tougher, so I don’t wish to deprive them of their benefits.’ But that’s just not how it operates.

Therefore, I believe there should be greater efforts to reach out to veterans so they’re aware of what they’ve earned. We should also focus on reinforcing and expanding many of these services. As I previously mentioned, mental health, tele-mental health, or other aspects, particularly veteran-specific suicide prevention programs, which is another significant challenge facing rural communities and veterans specifically.