Public Health

Post-9/11 Vet Newsletter - Fall 2016

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In this issue...

Mental Health Among Men and Women After Military Sexual Trauma
VA is committed to understanding the health effects of military sexual trauma (MST) and providing resources for Veterans who have experienced it. Since 2002, VA has conducted MST screening for all Veterans using VA health care. Among recent Veterans who responded to the "National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans" survey, including those who used VA health care and those who did not, 41% of women and 4% of men screened positive for MST. Keep reading to learn about research on MST and Mental Health.

Did you serve at Qarmat Ali?
During the spring and summer of 2003, approximately one thousand U.S. Servicemembers, including National Guard, Reserve, and active duty soldiers, guarded the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Facility in the Basrah oil fields in Iraq. Those Servicemembers may have been exposed to toxic hexavalent chromium from exposure to sodium dichromate dust. Read more about this possible exposure and how to get a free medical screening.

My HealtheVet: Veteran Care Made Easy
My HealtheVet, VA’s online personal health record, is a free tool to help Veterans take charge of their health care. Read on to learn about using My HealtheVet to proactively manage your health.

Assessment of the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry
The Health and Medicine Division (HMD), formerly known as the Institute of Medicine, of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the Academies) will release a new report later this year on the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. Keep reading to learn about the upcoming report and participation in the Burn Pit Registry.

Exposure to Chemical Warfare Agents
Servicemembers who handled or demolished explosive ordnances during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND) may have been exposed to toxic chemical warfare agents (CWAs), such as mustard agents or sarin, and may experience related health effects. Find out more about exposure to Chemical Warfare Agents in this article.

Airborne Hazards Center of Excellence
The Airborne Hazards Center of Excellence (AHCE) at the New Jersey War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) helps Veterans and VA to better understand the potential health effects of airborne hazards exposure. Keep reading to learn more about how the AHCE is pioneering these efforts.

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