1 in 4 vets show PTSD, depression signs

ALBANY - Nearly a quarter of New York veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, according to a study released Wednesday.

New York veterans are also more likely to be out of work, with a 13 percent unemployment rate - higher than the rate of 8.2 percent in New York and 9.1 percent nationally.

Moreover, 40 percent are either unaware of free government help to find jobs and health care or uncertain how to navigate the large federal bureaucracy, said the RAND Corp. study funded by an Albany nonprofit, the New York State Health Foundation.

"The information and help is out there, but we need to make sure it's being used," Bill Kraus, acting director of the state Division of Veterans Affairs, said at a news conference announcing the study Wednesday.

New York's returning veterans were eight times more likely to suffer from PTSD than the general public and faced a fourfold greater risk of major depression. Of particular concern, the study's authors said, was that only a third of those displaying signs of mental health problems had sought help.

The findings did not surprise Victor Labruna, associate director of the Rosen Family Wellness Center for Law Enforcement and Military Families at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. He agreed with the report's assertion that returning soldiers are afraid of being stigmatized in their civilian jobs.

"If it were not for the wives and girlfriends bringing soldiers in, we would not be treating anybody," Labruna said.

Scott Castillo, 38, a former Army Ranger from Long Beach, said veterans, including himself, have trouble readjusting to civilian life and finding work. Castillo said he was unemployed for eight months after returning home in 2004 and didn't know about programs to help veterans.

"In civilian life, you basically start from scratch. It was difficult," said Castillo, who now helps run Nassau's Welcome Back Warriors, a program started last year by County Executive Edward Mangano to help veterans with health claims and finding jobs.

At yesterday's news conference, veterans advocates urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to do a better job of connecting soldiers with services. Some also called for legislation allowing the Defense Department to automatically enroll veterans in the free VA health system. Soldiers now have to choose to be in the system.

Veterans Affairs spokesman John Mazzulla said the agency has installed case managers for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in each New York area VA hospital and advertised its services heavily at military bases, colleges and universities.

"We had the unfortunate experience of service men and women coming back from Vietnam having difficulties accessing services," Mazzulla said. "The VA is determined not to repeat that."