PTSD and Veterans

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 11-20% of veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is higher than the rate of PTSD in the general population, which is around 6-7%. 

The prevalence of PTSD among veterans varies depending on factors such as:

  • Combat experience
  • Service era
  • Age: PTSD is more common in younger veterans. 
  • Gender: Female veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than male veterans. 

Veterans in the Charleston tri-county area

There are approximately 75,000 veterans in the Charleston tri-county area (Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties). More specifically, Charleston County has about 35,000 veterans, while Dorchester and Berkeley counties account for the remaining approximately 40,000 veterans combined. 

  • Charleston County: Around 35,000 veterans. 
  • Dorchester County: About 8,160 veterans in the labor force. 
  • Berkeley County: The total number of veterans is not listed, but the county is home to a large veteran population, which makes up part of the total for the tri-county area. 

Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston serves over 100,000 veterans across a 23-county region in coastal South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina. Recent figures show the facility served just under 80,000 unique patients in fiscal year 2019, with over 10,000 of those being female veterans. 

VoD and Charleston VAMC

Veterans on Deck was established by Dr. Ron Acerno, a psychologist and PTSD researcher. His research demonstrated that sailing provided a positive therapeutic effect by decreasing anxiety, as well as depression. Dr. Acerno established VoD 15 years ago and the organization still provides therapeutic sailboat outings. VoD is a Community Partner of the VAMC which affords active communication between both organizations. The clinicians at the VAMC are aware of the beneficial effects of sailing and refer veterans to VoD.