Mental health issues with Vietnam Veterans wives

This study from Australia takes a look at wives of Vietnam Veterans.

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Mental health issues with Vietnam Veterans wives
August 18, 2011 , 3:06 PM by Fiona Parker

The wives and partners of Vietnam Veterans suffer higher rates of mental health issues than members of the general community. This is according to new research, and comes as no surprise to those who understand the awful health issues their husbands likely face. But some of the details of the research are fascinating.

Dr Brian O'Toole is Director of the Vietnam Veterans Health Study and he undertook this study for the Brain and Mind Institute.

He found the wives and partners of Vietnam veterans had very little alcohol use disorder compared to their husbands (and basically no different to the general Australian population), but had huge problems with anxiety, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

This morning, Fiona Parker spoke with Dr O'Toole to find out more.

Hear the interview

It is about time researchers took a look at wives that have lived through all of this for this many years. Yes, we do suffer. Yes our kids suffer. Above all the bad that comes with living with a PTSD veteran, the need for us to find information and support, there is one thing that is not talked about. Most of us were able to hold our marriages together without a clue what to do. There was no support when they came home for them or us. The only thing we had was a commitment to our husbands. We knew they were suffering and we wanted to make their lives better. We didn't have the Internet or support forums. There were only a few books about it and they were clinical studies about the veteran but leaving the spouse longing for someone to write something for them.

When we talk to the newer wives, we know how hard it is on them and when we help them, we are in fact helping ourselves heal. We remember all too well what it was like to be alone and feeling lost. We also learned by our own mistakes. We have a lot to share and even more to teach but the governments (US, UK and Australia) won't listen.