Veterans’ healthcare company APN releases study results on mental health, more in civilian life

In honor of Veterans Day this year, Colorado-based healthcare company All Points North, or APN for short, released the results of a survey that found veterans (and their families ) consistently struggle to maintain positive mental health. Highlights of the report were released by press release on November 10.

APN offers rehabilitation programs specifically designed for military veterans, with treatment centers in Colorado and California. Additionally, there are virtual therapies through the company’s APN Connections app, available on iOS and Android.

The survey came about through a collaboration between the APN and the research firm Censuswide. The project interviewed more than a thousand military veterans, which took nearly a week and a half. It took place from October 5 to 14.

“We train our military before they go to war, now is the time to seriously consider how we train them to re-enter civilian life,” said APN Founder and CEO Noah Nordheimer. in a press release. “Veterans and their families face unique challenges and as such they require personalized mental health care. We find that clients who have strong family involvement have a higher likelihood of sustained recovery, which is why we treat them as a unit. »

The survey results are grim. Among other figures, nearly half (45%) of respondents said they were not optimistic about their future improvement, with 56% saying their mental health issues were having a negative effect on their relationship with their partner. Many admitted to using alcohol and other controlled substances at least once a week as a coping mechanism.

“The fact that 56% of veterans in civilian roles say their mental health impacts their relationships at work doesn’t surprise me at all. It really represents how difficult, if not impossible, it is for veterans to relate to ‘normal people’. [who] have never served in the military or have any idea what veterans have been through, especially in the workplace,” veteran John Armor said in a statement given to me. “I sought treatment at APN with the goal of overcoming everyday obstacles like this and improving my overall mental health. I had an amazing treatment experience, where I was matched with understanding providers and I quickly received a treatment plan that was unique to me and perfect for my situation, which I think is essential for people who feel like they can’t relate to anyone other .”

Armor added that the data discovered by APN, while depressing, is not surprising.

“As a veteran struggling with opioid use disorder and major depressive disorder, this data unfortunately makes a lot of sense to me. Honestly, I would have expected over 46% to use controlled substances once a week to cope with civilian life.As for my own experience, I came to APN from another residential facility, where I had a bad experience and was really struggling to find the help I needed. I was drawn to APN for their different types and personalized approach to treatment. I stayed at APN for 30 days, during which time I received a variety of treatments ranging from from HBOT to deepTMS to even working with a personal trainer, I never felt like I had the same cookie-cutter approach as everyone else. [I wish I] sought treatment [with] APN earlier.

Like aging and aging communities, veterans are often overlooked as people with disabilities in need of accommodations. Make no mistake, mental health issues are disabilities. Similarly, services such as those provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs are a form of accessibility in the purest sense of the word. It is important to underline this because it is another example of the dynamism of accessibility. The problem with people with disabilities is that we find accessibility – or lack thereof – in almost every aspect of daily life; technology is just one. We do this out of necessity and out of the primary human need for survival.

APN’s full report can be downloaded from its website.