Consider these sobering statistics:

Pentagon officials stated in May of 2008 that at least 30 percent of all U.S. combat troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Many more troops are likely to have PTSD but it goes unreported because of the fear of being stigmatized.

It can take years for PTSD to emerge. Some individuals suffer with it on and off for years which make it hard to diagnose.

Families who are coping with a member who has PTSD are at risk to develop secondary PTSD (Antidepressant prescriptions written for military families/service members, 14 mo. period 2005-2006: 200,000 as reported on SignonSandiego.com).

Studies do show that when family members are supported in their missions as caregiver, they are less likely to develop secondary PTSD and are more effective in helping the veteran alleviate PTSD symptoms.

Let's consider the impact on veteran families coping with PTSD. There is a high rated of marital instability for combat veterans in general and this is particularly severe when a veteran has PTSD. Because of this, divorce rates are high. In Vietnam vets with PTSD, the divorce rates are twice as high and they are three times as likely to experience multiple divorces.

Spouses of partners with PTSD are often very distressed and unhappy because they feel high levels of caregiver burden, poor relationship adjustment and poor communication with partners.

The bottom line is that increased stress in the family can and actually does trigger PTSD symptoms for the veteran. These high levels of stressful emotions can also prevent the veteran from getting better while plunging the family into greater despair. The family often becomes socially isolated as intimate relationships become more difficult. This is the opposite of what every member needs.

The community at large needs to recognize veteran families need a tremendous amount of support as they go through the readjustment period and deal with PTSD. Certainly, it is crucial for the Veterans Administration to provide health benefits to these families; but it is also crucial that members of our communities reach out in various ways to recognize and support them. It is especially important for the spouses of veterans with PTSD to have their own network of friends to enjoy and benefit from social connections. Spouses need to have hobbies and activities that will be effective in releasing stress. Very often the spouse will reduce outside activities because of guilt for enjoying herself/himself when the veteran spouse chooses to stay home (isolation is one type of PTSD symptom).

Communities can make it easy for veteran families to identify free and inexpensive resources for getting support. Some religious groups for example will provide babysitting services. Others such will help people obtain prescription drugs less expensively. Clothing and food drives can benefit financially strapped veteran families who are unable to work because of PTSD.

There are a lot of online resources beyond the VA for veteran families as well. If one does an internet search on "support for veteran families coping with PTSD", an abundance of information and resources will appear.

Veteran families would also benefit by being educated about anxiety management techniques. There are plenty of self help books and CDs to assist them here but without the recognition that these resources exist - they are of little use. Community members can insist that libraries have these materials abundantly available. Religious and community groups could fundraise or request donations of these materials.

Finally, veterans and their families deserve our respect and thanks. They need our understanding. They need to believe that it is not shameful to have PTSD and be encouraged to face the problem and seek help. We need to let them know that we care about them because they cared about us.