In this report, the authors use the Wounded Warrior Project's 2013 survey of its members (alumni) to understand the physical, mental, and economic challenges that Wounded Warriors face. The researchers find that at least half of alumni reported dealing with mental health conditions such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, and many of these alumni reported difficulties or delays in seeking mental health care, or not doing so at all.

Cover: Health and Economic Outcomes Among the Alumni of the Wounded Warrior Project
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Health and Economic Outcomes Among the Alumni of the Wounded Warrior Project

2013

by Jennifer L. Cerully, Mustafa Oguz, Heather Krull, Katheryn Giglio

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Research Questions

  1. What physical and mental health challenges do WWP alumni face?
  2. What employment challenges do WWP alumni face?
  3. How are these challenges related to WWP alumni characteristics, especially the types of service-related injuries and conditions they have experienced?

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) offers support and raises public awareness of service members who have experienced physical or mental health conditions associated with their service on or after September 11, 2001. In this report, the authors use WWP's 2013 survey of its members (alumni) to understand the physical, mental, and economic challenges that Wounded Warriors face. The researchers find that at least half of alumni reported dealing with mental health conditions such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, and many of these alumni reported difficulties or delays in seeking mental health care, or not doing so at all. Alcohol misuse also poses a problem. A large proportion of alumni are overweight or obese, conditions that negatively affect their daily lives, exercise routines, and overall health. Almost half of alumni are not working, and there is low participation in veteran-specific employment and education programs. This information can be used to better understand the needs of WWP alumni and the ways that WWP can serve and support this constituency.

Key Findings

Wounded Warriors Need to Be Empowered in Mind and Spirit

  • More than 50 percent of WWP alumni screened positive for one of the following: probable depression, probable PTSD, or probable alcohol misuse.
  • Of alumni who screened positive, 37-47 percent reported having difficulty getting mental health care, delaying care, or not getting needed care.
  • Commonly reported barriers to care include inconsistent treatment or treatment lapses, discomfort with existing DoD or VA resources, concern about negative effects on career, and concern about being viewed as weak.

Wounded Warriors Need to Be Empowered in Body

  • Upward of 80 percent of WWP alumni are overweight or obese.
  • Alumni with obesity are more likely than other alumni to have reported that their health is fair or poor, they have greater limitations to their daily activities and work due to their physical health, and they exercise less than twice per week.
  • Commonly reported barriers to exercise and physical activity include discomfort with social situations, concerns about safety and reinjury, and not having time.

Wounded Warriors Need to Be Empowered Economically

  • Many alumni have access to government benefits to promote economic and educational empowerment but do not use these benefits.
  • Only about 9 percent of alumni with a VA disability rating of 10 percent or greater reported using the VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E).
  • Only 17 percent of alumni reported using the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Table of Contents

  • Chapter One

    Introduction

  • Chapter Two

    Overview of 2013 WW P Alumni Survey, Respondents, and Analysis

  • Chapter Three

    Mental Health Outcomes

  • Chapter Four

    Physical Health Outcomes

  • Chapter Five

    Economic Outcomes

  • Chapter Six

    Discussion

  • Appendix A

    Interpretation of Regression Analyses

  • Appendix B

    Analyses for Chapter 3

  • Appendix C

    Analyses for Chapter 4

  • Appendix D

    Analyses for Chapter 5

  • Appendix E

    Fact Sheets

Research conducted by

The research described in this report was sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project and conducted within the Forces and Resources Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division.

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