The First World War had a profound and long-lasting effect on soldiers lucky not to succumb to the raging war. These soldiers developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during and after the war, thereby significantly impacting their lives after the war was over. Millions of soldiers from various parts of the world participated in the conflict. These soldiers, particularly those who were at the frontline experiencing prolonged trench warfare and witnessing the gory casualties of war unfolding before them, became vulnerable to post-traumatic disorder. These victims of post-war mental health challenges included war veterans hailing from various backgrounds, cultures, and social classes. The return of these soldiers brought about several challenges to the societies that welcomed them back as they struggled to reinvent their lives to conform to the society they were welcomed into. In doing so, many of them faced challenges ranging from broken relationships with their family and community, lack of employment, and social stigma as they were viewed as responsible for the loss of lives and destruction of property when, in a real sense, they were following orders. This situation greatly pressured their families, communities, and the healthcare system. The question of how the mental health of these soldiers affected their lives can, therefore, be analyzed through an interdisciplinary lens of history to comprehend the historical context of the First World War, the issues of mental health among soldiers, and the cultural representations of the soldiers who survived the war. Therefore, through the lens of history, it is clear that the lives of the First World War soldiers were largely shaped by the mental health problems they sustained on the battlefield, thereby culminating in personal struggles and social challenges.
The unprecedented mental health cases among the war veterans necessitated the creation of mental health facilities within the existing healthcare systems. According to Khan (2022), the interwar period led to the development of psychiatry in India since some soldiers were susceptible to mental health illness. India’s healthcare system had limited mental healthcare facilities until the mental health challenges of war veterans raised that necessity. The mental health challenges brought about a radical change in healthcare systems to accommodate the growing need for mental healthcare. In India, for instance, these challenges led to the creation of the Indian Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry, a brainchild of the Indian Psychiatric Society in 1947, to handle the country’s mental health matters (Khan, 2022). The difficult challenges of living with mental health issues among the veteran soldiers effected several institutional changes, such as the creation of institutions with the sole aim of combatting mental health issues. Therefore, the creation of such institutions made it easier to help veteran soldiers handle their challenging situations as they received help from such institutions. Buechner (2020) asserts that some learning institutions have since included support programs to help veterans cope with various challenges, such as the Military Psychology program at Adler University. Such programs have lessened the pain felt by war veterans as they battle mental health issues after the war. The measures have also led to a gradual shift in societal understanding of mental health to a positive understanding, allowing people to help war veterans battling such challenges.
The mental health challenges faced by the World War One veterans shaped societal social practices. According to (Khan, 2022), those who offered psychiatric services in India retained some biases, for instance, as soldiers from particular races were less vulnerable to mental health problems. This skepticism was maintained even during the Second World War. The experiences of World War I soldiers have shaped various practices revolving around mental health. Some people find it difficult to believe that soldiers can suffer from mental health cases, thereby making it difficult for such skeptical individuals to render the necessary help to the suffering soldiers. Rostek (2020) notes that it is concerning that resources for combatting mental health challenges among war veterans in Canada are lacking, resulting in a potential barrier to mental healthcare and increased psychological stress. In modern society, mental health cases are yet to be given the emphasis they need, leading to negligence in dealing with such cases. Such negligence results in the unavailability of necessary resources like healthcare facilities meant to handle mental health cases.
An important element of change is the change in perception the society holds towards mental health issues. According to Buechner (2020), student programs aimed at helping war veterans have created awareness of the implications of social justice and veterans’ experiences in line with their mental health to help veterans and their families transition to better lives. The struggles undergone by these soldiers culminated in social justice movements aimed at sensitizing people about mental health challenges faced by soldiers. Such sensitization has helped military veterans to settle down easily in their new lives through the support they receive through social justice programs. According to Vance & Howell (2020), policy changes within the US Department of Veteran Affairs no longer view post-traumatic stress disorder disability claimants with suspicion but have led to favorable compensation decisions. Increased awareness about mental health challenges has led to a positive perception of those affected by mental health, more so military veterans, ensuring they get their compensation, among other benefits.
Societal stigma caused by a lack of understanding of mental health issues is a major obstacle to the engagement of war veterans. Ganz et al. (2021) state that military leaders equated mental illness in service to laziness, thereby increasing stigma and posing a barrier to mental health treatment. Some people do not understand the effects of mental illness, and this lack of understanding makes stigma thrive. With this skewed view of mental illness, soldiers often feel ashamed and find it difficult to communicate the challenges they are facing. Through counseling sessions, mental health professionals can help eradicate stigma among soldiers (Ganz et al., 2021). Such sessions can eliminate stigma since treatment is administered like other basic military training sessions.
Assumptions are crucial in impacting mental health topics since they lead to a lack of emphasis on mental health issues, potentially worsening the situation. According to Khan (2022), during the First World War, British officers assumed that their Indian subordinates harmed themselves deliberately so they could be relieved from their duties or given compensation. Such assumptions can impede the access and delivery of healthcare services to soldiers undergoing genuine mental health issues. Assuming that an individual is not affected by mental health makes such an affected individual not open up on the challenges he is undergoing, worsening the situation and making other people more susceptible to mental health issues.
Biases also impact mental health topics among military veterans. According to Khan (2022), colonial biases were internalized in Indian psychiatry because the country was unable to leave biased practices. The impact of colonializing included entrenchment of bias, which still exists in some societies and spanning across various sectors such as health sectors. There is a substantial bias concerning gender, class, and mental illness, which is pivotal in understanding the experiences of war veterans. It is, therefore, cardinal to understand the nature of trauma and the coping mechanisms of individuals facing mental illness to help eliminate such potential biases.
Addressing mental health issues among war veterans empowers them by eliminating self-stigma and enabling them to build their lives afresh. Self-stigma erodes self-respect and disempowers an individual by making them feel worthless and incapable of achieving personal goals, making it difficult to find or keep employment (Brouwers, 2020). Mental illness negatively affects an individual by making them devalue themselves, thereby finding it difficult to cope with life after military service. However, addressing mental illness can lead to work adjustment and social support, thereby helping to ensure job security (Brouwers, 2020). It is imperative to handle cases of mental health among soldiers to enable them to reconstruct their post-war lives by finding ways to make a living, among others. Solving mental illness empowers veterans to stand up for themselves and not burden their families and communities.
Cultural conditioning against clinical psychology can impede the efforts to address mental health challenges among soldiers. According to Buechner (2020), veterans can be culturally conditioned to avoid clinical psychology, which can lead to re-traumatization. Failure to accept the help of professional social health workers in dealing with mental health illness can cause an individual to experience trauma once more. Furthermore, cultures that discourage individuals from seeking the help of healthcare professionals in fighting mental illnesses worsen the situation. This situation, therefore, poses a major challenge to addressing mental health issues.
The issues of veteran mental health can best be used by employing a critical lens as a strategy of analysis. Using a critical lens in analyzing such mental health cases can inform a personal commitment to social justice and advocacy for vulnerable populations. It can make individuals more aware and understanding of the plight of those suffering from mental illnesses, thereby paving the way for amicable solutions to such mental health challenges. In future careers of professional social healthcare workers, the ability to comprehend mental health issues can translate into providing more informed and holistic support to clients or patients struggling with trauma.
As a professional social healthcare worker, an individual can recognize the invisible scars of war in veterans. According to Vance and Howell (2020), people fighting in wars sustain both physical and psychological wounds, leaving scars in their minds. War veterans have mental health issues that remain as scars in their minds sustained from the war. A social worker may encounter such cases daily in their lines of duty, thereby calling upon to offer support and understanding. In so doing, a professional social healthcare worker needs to examine their own biases and assumptions to allow them to engage with mental health victims in a non-judgmental and empathetic way.
My understanding of the immense and lasting effects of mental illness has been broadened by critically analyzing how mental health affected World War I soldiers in their post-war lives. According to Khan (2022), almost 6000 injured soldiers were treated and given artificial legs in 1916 in India. The First World War left many soldiers limbless, thereby having a long-lasting effect on them and their mental health even after the war. Such experiences undergone by war veterans have instilled in me a sense of responsibility toward ensuring access to mental health resources and dismantling the societal stigma surrounding mental illness. The experiences have made me realize the extent of damage war does to soldiers, thereby making it necessary for such victims to be accorded the required help.
The challenges faced by veterans of the First World War make me aware of the struggles war veterans have been undergoing throughout world conflicts. Rostek (2020) notes that many World War One soldiers returned from the war having shell shock, currently known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma is one of the challenges that have been facing war veterans, and this has changed my perception that military combat is sometimes necessary in maintaining a peaceful world order. Ganz et al. (2021) state that about 8.4% of the military force the US has sent for war in Iraq and Afghanistan were diagnosed with mental health issues in 2019, resulting in an increased level of suicide. These challenges underscore the need to advocate for the rights and well-being of soldiers rather than see them as mere agents of destruction. Besides, this analysis has also altered my world perception by highlighting the need to change the societal attitude towards mental illness.
Recognizing my biases is important in altering my perception of the world. According to Khan (2022), the British officers in the First World were biased toward the Indian soldiers by refusing to acknowledge their mental illness. This level of bias resulted in many soldiers being affected by mental health challenges. By reflecting on my bias, I am made more aware of the perceived notions about mental health. Therefore, recognizing and addressing such biases is pivotal in building a society that is more inclusive, accommodating, welcoming, and supportive of people struggling with mental health challenges.
This critical analysis reinforces the connection between cultural narratives, historical context, and individual experiences of veteran soldiers in shaping the understanding of mental health. Furthermore, it is crucial to understand the societal impacts of mental health. The analysis also informs strategies for creating an inclusive and supportive environment besides advocating for mental health policies. Therefore, critical analysis is essential in informing my future profession and practice in social work.
Studying wellness underscores the link between physical and mental health. Due to this interconnectedness, it can set the trajectory for the next big topic by focusing on holistic well-being approaches that may become a focus in various disciplines. Furthermore, studying well-being can open doors to more research on how the challenges of mental illnesses can be mitigated.
Other lenses can be used to analyze the mental health challenges faced by World War I veterans. One such lens is the natural science lens. Using this lens could lead to an examination of the neurological and biological underpinnings of post-traumatic stress disorder. This approach could have delved much into the physical and neurological effects of trauma on victims of mental health, besides the biological causes of such trauma. Likewise, the analysis could have been different had the lens of social science been used. This lens could have focused on the pivotal roles of social support networks, family, and community and their resources in supporting veterans’ recovery.
Understanding the challenges veterans face can help bring about change. For instance, it can help in changing the perspective of people to view mental health as a serious challenge that needs to be addressed. Societal stigma is, however, a major stumbling block to the realization of a society free from mental health problems. Stigmatization makes it difficult for soldiers and other victims to seek medication, thereby worsening their situation. The assumption that mental health is not a threat is also catastrophic since it impedes any treatment measure that can be taken to mitigate mental health. Besides, people also have various biases regarding mental health; however, treating mental health is beneficial as it empowers individuals to find a new life despite the challenge of cultural conditioning against clinical psychology that impedes such benefits. Learning about mental health challenges that the war veterans faced, therefore, can change an individual’s perspective on mental health and the world and also bridge a gap between various cultures, beliefs, and personal perspectives about mental health. It underscores the need to emphasize the need to build a society that is supportive of people facing mental health changes besides finding amicable solutions to mental health illness.
Buechner, B. D. (2020). Untold stories of moral injury: What we are learning—and not learning—from military veterans in transition. Frontiers in Communication, 5, 599301. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2020.599301
Brouwers, E. P. (2020). Social stigma is an underestimated contributing factor to unemployment in people with mental illness or mental health issues: position paper and future directions. BMC psychology, 8, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00399-0
Ganz, A., Yamaguchi, C., Koritzky, B. P. G., & Berger, S. E. (2021). Military Culture and Its Impact on Mental Health and Stigma. Journal of Community Engagement & Scholarship, 13(4), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.54656/ZZHP1245
Khan, S. (2022). Medicine and the critique of war: military psychiatry, social classification and the malingering patient in colonial India. Medical History, 66(1), 47-63. https://doi.org/10.1017/mdh.2021.38
Rostek, M. (2020). Occupational therapy’s role in military family mental health. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 6(S3), 58-62. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2019-0038
Vance, M. C., & Howell, J. D. (2020, September). Shell shock and PTSD: a tale of two diagnoses. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 95, No. 9, pp. 1827-1830). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.06.002