Service Members and Families

Service Members and Families

Serving our nation is a hallmark of Reserve and National Guard service members and their families. The times before, during and after deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan can be stressful for service members and their families. Service members often return from combat bearing the invisible wounds of war – posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anger, substance abuse, traumatic brain injury, and related conditions. Families must cope with worry about their safety and the added stress of running a household while they are deployed.

CSSP works with public and private organizations to increase access to trained behavioral health providers. One of CSSP’s most powerful tools in this mission is the www.warwithin.org searchable database which enables veterans and family members to find local civilian health providers who understand the challenges of deployment-related issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, depression, substance use disorder and suicide. To address the concern that a reservist might have a lapse in care during the deployment cycle as they switch from civilian to military health insurance, www.warwithin.org allows users to search for providers who accept patients with different types of insurance, or no insurance at all.

To learn more about deployment— and combat-related health and behavioral health conditions click here.