The mental health care crisis among military veterans in the United States has
become a national concern in recent years, sparking questions regarding the quality of
psychological care provided by veteran's welfare programs. However, this is not a
contemporary issue as the field of veteran's psychological support has experienced a
tumultuous evolution since the formation of the country. One of the
most influential events that sparked this evolution was The Civil War. The mental health
services provided to Civil War veterans immediately following the war was limited to
severe cases of mental illness. Veterans who experienced mild to moderate symptoms
relied on a range of sources for support, from family and community care to
governmental assistance programs, which included soldier homes and the pension
system. While these services didn't directly address issues of mental health, they were
often repurposed to assist psychologically disabled veterans. This patchwork system of
aid provided veterans with medical care, shelter, and financial compensation. However, the pension system and soldier homes enforced eligibility requirements for services
significantly limiting the accessibility of such aid. As the requirements for eligibility
eased, more psychologically disabled veterans qualified for governmental aid. The
remainder of veterans who continued to be unqualified for professional assistance turned
to the only source of support left: their families and communities. Alone these sources
were inadequate in providing the necessary support for many psychologically disabled
veterans. Together, they created a patchwork system of support that provided Civil War
veterans with a variety of care options with a range of basic treatments, which often
proved to be ineffective by 19th century standards. This quantity over quality approach to
treating psychological disorders expanded the coverage of care for veterans but it failed
to improve its services leaving countless veterans without proper support.
As contemporary veteran's welfare programs continue to approach the mental health
crisis with a similar philosophy emphasizing extensive yet ineffective treatments, it's
critical to understand how this system of care benefited and ultimately hindered
psychologically disabled veterans.
