One of the most damaging stigmas of mental health is that only “certain” people develop problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mental Health America reports that approximately 45 percent of adults in the U.S. will develop a mental health diagnosis. Of those, nearly 60 percent will not receive quality treatment. One program that aims to help military personnel achieve better health is the Tactical Recovery Program. 

Veteran Mental Health Statistics
Millions of service men and women face traumatic circumstances in their line of work that many of us simply can’t begin to understand. Yet the expectation of these brave warriors is that nothing should affect them. 

Additionally, in some environments, there’s even a prevailing attitude that active-duty and retired personnel should “shrug it off” or “buck up” when faced with behavioral challenges. This causes even more stigma regarding mental illnesses, making it even more critical to speak up about serious conditions such as:

• PTSD
• Chronic symptoms from traumatic brain injuries
• Anxiety and depression
• Alcohol and substance abuse

Many individuals are also struggling with more than one disorder—for example, 20 percent of people with PTSD also have alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder. 

In 2022, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported:

• Between 40 and 70 percent of former military members “experience high levels of stress during transition from military to civilian life.”
• “Approximately 5.2 million Veterans experienced a behavioral health condition.” What makes this statistic even more grave is that “more than half of veterans with a mental illness did not receive treatment within the past year.”
• “Additionally, more than 90 percent of those experiencing a substance use disorder did not receive treatment.” 

Other alarming factors appear in a 2022 study from the National Library of Medicine: 

• About 6,000 veterans die by suicide every year, the highest number in recorded history. 
• Approximately 30 percent of completed suicides among military personnel were attributable to alcohol or drug use.
• Half of depressed patients are not properly diagnosed, which means they do not receive appropriate treatment. 

While there’s more awareness among the general medical community about providing better services for veterans, active-duty and reserve service members, and first responders, customized treatment initiatives designed specifically for this population will address more acute concerns and produce stronger results. One of these initiatives is Seabrook’s Tactical Recovery program. 

Tactical Recovery: Serving Those Who Served
The Tactical Recovery program is a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Network and PsychArmor, a nonprofit organization that provides training for military cultural awareness. 

Tactical Recovery offers evidence-based, individualized treatment for alcohol and substance use disorders as well as mental health care. Designed by medical professionals who understand the full impact of military service and other first responder roles, the Tactical Recovery program provides a culturally competent and trauma-informed environment responsive to this population’s unique experiences and needs.

Program components include: 

• Collaborative discharge planning with military command or the VA
• Different options of care, including medically supervised detoxification, residential and outpatient rehabilitation, and partial hospitalization 
• Various treatment and recovery applications, including 12-Step programs, SMART Recovery curriculum, cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, family education and support, relapse prevention, and aftercare support
• An introduction to different holistic therapy opportunities, including nutrition and personal exercise training, spiritual growth, meditation and mindfulness practices, art therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and yoga
• Additional wellness services, such as acupuncture, hydro-massage beds, and more

Every day is structured to provide intensive intervention and to educate, encourage, and empower an individual’s movement into recovery. More importantly, participants have access to numerous resources post-treatment, including: 

• Intensive outpatient counseling
• Private therapist referrals for ongoing mental health
• Housing, food assistance, and veteran networking
• Connection to local support groups, such as 12-Step programs, SMART Recovery, and Celebrate Recovery 
• Other supportive community resources 

Get the Care You Deserve in New Jersey
Since the Tactical Recovery program is part of the VA’s Community Care Network, our veteran clients can use their VA benefits to access treatment with no out-of-pocket expense. So there’s no need to struggle with addiction, PTSD, or other mental and emotional health conditions any longer—we’ve got your six. Talk to a member of our admissions team today. 

If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, please call one of these hotlines:

• The Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
• PTSD Veteran Line: 1-877-717-7873
• National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Stop Soldier Suicide: 1-844-889-5610
• The Real Warriors Live Chat: 1-866-966-1020 or start a live chat online