VETERAN STORIES

Research suggests the marginalization and cumulative adverse experiences of Black veterans and other Veterans of color during their time in the military can leave deep scars, on top of the traumatic experiences they may have experienced that are similar to those of other Veterans. Race-based trauma during military service coupled with civilian experiences of interpersonal or systemic racism can lead to poor mental health and create barriers to seeking mental healthcare. Studies have shown Veterans of color have higher rates of mental health issues like PTSD, compared with white Veterans, even when controlling for where they were deployed and the pressures of returning from war.