Veterans needing treatment for mental health issues

Veterans needing treatment for mental health issues
March 11, 2012,
by Alix Bryan

As troops return home from war, more and more veterans are finding themselves in need of treatment for mental health issues.

Many of them end up having to wait for long periods to get the help they need.

Jessica Raines is proud of her husband’s service. Paul Raines spent his tour in Iraq investigating IED and suicide bomb attacks.

“You see a lot. One of the bombings of the market um, it killed women and children… I mean, it changes your whole perspective on life,” said Raines.

When he returned to civilian life in Maryland, he had a hard time coping.

He learned later that he had post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I drank like a fish when we got back. Really I was just trying to suppress and kill the pain of what I saw over there. So it took a little while for me to actually get around to the idea that, OK, I need help,” said Raines.

The Raines’ contacted a veteran’s affairs medical center last May.
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