Improving Mental Health Care for Returning Veterans 05/14/09. A substantial number of the 1.7 million military servicemembers returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan may face mental health problems. A comprehensive study conducted by RAND in 2008 found that an estimated 18.5 percent of those back from deployment reported symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. The study also examined veterans' access to quality mental health treatment. It identified gaps in the military and veterans health care systems and opportunities for improvement. A large infusion of new funds into the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in recent years is supporting their continuing efforts to improve care. However, many returning veterans also seek care in community settings as they reintegrate into civilian life. As part of the Invisible Wounds of War project, a RAND team published additional results identifying key challenges to the provision of mental health care that cut across community, VHA, and DoD health care settings. This fact sheet is based on Burnam MA, Meredith LS, Tanielian T, and Jaycox LH, “Mental Health Care for Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans,” Health Affairs, Vol. 28, No. 3, May/June 2009, pp. 771–782. RAND