New Study Shows 44 Percent OEF OIF Veterans Have PTSD

61 PERCENT OF VETERANS HAVE DIFFICULTY ADJUSTING TO CIVILIAN LIFE, STUDY FINDS
ABC 7 News
Eileen Frere
February 19, 2015

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A newly released USC study finds many veterans, especially combat veterans, in Orange County face major challenges when adjusting to civilian life.

"The state of the American Veteran: The Orange County Veterans Study," was conducted by the USC School of Social Work Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families. The Orange County Community Foundation helped commission the study.

In the study, 1227 veterans were surveyed. Of those 1227, 61 percent of post 9/11 veterans reported having difficulty adjusting to civilian life.

Seventy-four percent did not have a job when they left the military, and 44 percent of veterans screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder.

"It took a long, long time for my PTSD to really just start causing a lot of problems," said Stephen Young, a 32-year-old former Marine who served in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003.

After returning home, Young found himself among the nearly 1,400 homeless veterans in Orange County.

Young, like half of the veterans surveyed in the study, had no idea where to go for help.
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OCCF Reveals First-ever Study on Orange County Veterans
Release Date: February 19, 2015
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The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) released groundbreaking data today from a first-ever study finding that military veterans coming home to Orange County are significantly underprepared for civilian life. The study exposed significant challenges faced by returning veterans in securing adequate employment, finding stable housing and meeting physical and mental health needs. OCCF unveiled the report to 250 donors and business and community leaders, preceded by an address from Admiral Mike Mullen, 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and 28th Chief of Naval Operations.