Combat Trauma often goes undiagnosed and untreated until the victim leaves the service and eventually seeks help from the Veterans Administration (VA).  A July 2009 VA study showed that 43% of veterans seeking assistance at VA facilities had suffered symptoms of combat trauma, a six-fold increase since 2002. 

The National Institute of Mental Health recently revealed that the suicide rate among military veterans is now more than double the rate for civilian populations with similar demographics. Another report claims that 18 veterans (from all wars) commit suicide every day.

While the causes of suicide are known only to the victims and God, Combat Trauma often manifests as overwhelming feelings of guilt: "Why did I survive and my buddy didn't?" "How could I have saved by comrade -in-arms?"  Combat Trauma therefore, may well be a factor in these chilling statistics.

Sadly, the nature of combat trauma may also cause some veterans to not only avoid seeking treatment, but also to distance themselves from friends and family, with the result that they end up becoming homeless.  The VA estimates that more than 100,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and that 1.5 million others are at risk of becoming homeless.