How many of you realize that MST causes future homelessness? (M.S.T. stands for Military Sexual Trauma.)

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel I was wondering the same thing.

Many of these women have experienced sexual trauma; some, domestic violence, often while they were in uniform. Others struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders.

Preliminary research suggests that experiences of MST causes functional impairment and a common factor leading to the inability to care for their families and a direct result from their Military service.

Unemployment and limited civilian job preparation and skills have led many of these veterans to poverty and the inability to care for their or their families’ everyday basic needs.
Pavao (2013). Military sexual trauma among homeless veterans.

Thanks for the Clarification Chaplain. Yes we have a problem there and while the numbers sound hopeful that some progress is being made on this problem I don't know that I trust them and in an environment where we work, with a lot of Type A personalities and some that see our unique situation as something to be manipulated to their benefit to Sexually Victimize those assigned to them, This is going to be an ongoing battle to stop it, police it and help the victims.

I am currently working on my Ph.D. for Advance Studies in Behavior and I see a direct connection between early SMT, many service members repress the memory and do not deal with it directly. This causes disruption in attachment and creating long lasting relationships and while we are making progress, the collateral damage that may veterans have to deal with on their own is appalling and leads to high risk behavior.

The long-term effects of sexual assault have been associated with such mental health conditions as anxiety disorders, depression, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and personality disorders.

Because data also suggest that sexual trauma may affect women and men differently, research can provide direction in dealing with such issues as hormonal changes, long-term effects of sexually transmitted infections, and location of HPV. In addition, innovative treatment strategies, such as online counseling, and prescreening for trauma in an enlistee's pre-military life could add critical tools and information for more thorough treatment options throughout one's military career.

Two important considerations include (a) a national screening tool for all health care facilities to identify silent sexual trauma and (b) educational programs in the workplace to expand their support for identifying veterans in need of support while employed.

I did not realize that Dr. Daniel Schacter talks about the EPISODIC MEMORY this is the memory recalls the traumatic soul wounds of the past. One effective way to release the unprocessed emotion of the past, heal traumatic memories by re-experiencing, processing, releasing.

I recommend cognitive behavior therapy, and all that may have had this happened go to the VA. They have MST counseling by remembering the trauma identify the facts about the trauma.

Deal with issues of forgiveness, ad finally face your triggers and your fears.

I have to say how many are not reported or if they are and nothing is done? I know the theory I heard over there was what happens on deployment stays on deployment. For me that was the case. I also don't feel that because MST happens to you then you will have homelessness and crime and drug problems. I find that to be a stereotype we keep portraying them as. Just my thought is all.

SPC Thomas:
About a quarter of female veterans in the VA’s Homelessness Programs have minor children

Women who become homeless after leaving the military often end up that way gradually, following a “downward spiral.” Women are more likely to experience trauma in the military, like MST, and subsequently develop mental health issues such as PTSD
The silent wounds that many carry unconscious memories from serving their country through generations of conflict and trauma that Intergenerational PTSD has emerged as a variable in causation and susceptibility to PTSD in subsequent generations exacerbated by emotional numbing. The wounds of our ancestors are etched in our psyche that keeps us connected to our distinctive history and leave many in conflict from un-resolved pain that is buried from the wounds of our Fathers. The denial and internal conflict come from the imprints of our own personal historical history. The course of time produces obsession thoughts bringing to the resurface our multi-trauma (Briere, & Scott, (2013).
It is through the generations of conflict and trauma that Intergenerational PTSD has emerged as a variable in causation and susceptibility to PTSD in subsequent generations exacerbated by emotional numbing. Emotional Numbing is a byproduct of PTSD that without treatment not only perpetuates the disorder in the individual but also creates the emotional and psychiatric environment for the disorder to manifest in subsequent generations (Friedman, Resick, Bryant, & Brewin, 2011).