For generations, veterans have carried the invisible scars of war.
They have been told to “be strong,” and to “tough it out.”
But that mindset is shifting.
Today’s veterans are navigating those challenges differently from those before them. They’re turning away from silence and stigma, and instead tackling trauma head-on, building communities both in-person and online, and redefining what healing looks like in a society that’s finally starting to listen.
PTSD Rates Across Different Generations of Veterans
Post-9/11 veterans are now the largest living group of U.S. service members, and with that shift has come a more open dialogue about trauma, PTSD, and mental health.
According to the National Center for PTSD, 11–20% of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan experience PTSD.
While data from veterans who served post-9/11 is more readily available, there is still research showing the rate of PTSD in older generations of veterans. An additional study done showed:
- Persian Gulf War Veterans: 21% experienced PTSD at some point in their life
- Vietnam War Veterans: 10% experienced PTSD at some point in their life
- World War II and Korean War Veterans: 3% experienced PTSD at some point in their life
However, there are many factors that could contribute to the lower reported rates of PTSD in older generations of veterans.
To start, the above data is representative of veterans who were alive at the time of the study.
Additionally, an important factor to consider when looking at historic data is the language used. PTSD was not officially recognized as a legitimate psychiatric diagnosis until 1980.
So, even if a veteran exhibited clear signs of PTSD (and chose to get help), they could’ve been diagnosed with anything from shell shock to “adjustment reaction to adult life,” depending on the year.
In many cases, their PTSD might have been misattributed to another condition, such as depression or substance abuse disorder. Across all generations, unfortunately, PTSD often goes hand-in-hand with depression, alcoholism, and addiction. Rates of these conditions are also significantly higher among veterans than in the general population.
How Society’s View of Veterans and Coping Has Changed
While mental health is still stigmatized today, more people have a general understanding.
This, however, was not always the case. Many older generations did not have access to adequate support systems, and thus they may not have felt as though getting help was an option.
Again, it’s important to remember that for a very, very long time, the response to men expressing their emotions was: “man up,” and to women, it was “stop being so hysterical.”
In addition to a lack of support, it’s likely that post-war treatment is also a contributing factor to the lowered rates of PTSD among older generations of veterans.
After WWII, veterans were hailed as heroes—and they might not have wanted to break that vision by admitting they had trauma.
After Vietnam, many returning troops faced an atmosphere of hostility, indifference, or social alienation. This, in turn, could’ve prevented them from seeking help and built further resentment—because if their fellow countrymen rejected them, who would accept them?
Contrast that with today. This is a generation raised on the internet; and while misunderstanding still exists, many modern veterans encounter more awareness, more mental-health advocacy, and more platforms to voice their experience. They can be heard, whether it’s talking with friends, sharing their experience online, or participating in veteran-focused mental health initiatives.
What’s different is that today’s veterans have a choice, and, most importantly, support.
That doesn’t mean the journey is easy—in fact, nearly half of post-9/11 veterans say that readjusting to civilian life was somewhat-to-very difficult. The military still has deep roots in stoicism, and the phrase “suck it up” hasn’t disappeared from the vocabulary. But the more veterans speak out (online, in podcasts, in virtual communities, etc.) the more society realizes that trauma recovery isn’t a private battle, it’s a shared human experience.
How Today’s Veterans Are Redefining Recovery
The landscape of veteran life has changed.
Coping with trauma used to mean keeping it buried. But this generation isn’t taking the “tough it out” route their fathers and grandfathers might have. They’re choosing to talk it out.
Now, it’s about rewiring how the mind and body respond to it. Some veterans find healing in therapy or mindfulness; others turn to physical fitness, community activism, or help from a psychiatric service dog.
What’s striking is the willingness to experiment—something that might’ve been unthinkable even twenty years ago.
In the past, veterans would congregate at VFW halls, drinking beer and sharing war stories. While those spaces once offered community, younger veterans—many of whom served in Iraq and Afghanistan—don’t want nostalgia; they want a path forward.And so, they are finding connection in new, more dynamic ways. Whether through therapy, online groups, or even local meet-ups, veterans are finding ways to heal together rather than in isolation.
Society’s understanding of trauma and PTSD has grown exponentially. Veterans today are met with more compassion, more research-backed resources, and a growing network of organizations committed to mental health advocacy. Because of this, healing is no longer confined to a therapist’s office or a veteran’s hall. It’s happening in everyday environments where people feel safe enough to open up.
How Emotional Service Dogs Help Veterans
Emotional service dogs (sometimes called psychiatric service dogs) are playing a central role in this new chapter of recovery. In fact, a study by Purdue University found that veterans with psychiatric service dogs showed a 42% reduction in PTSD symptoms.
Psychiatric service dogs can be trained to perform any number of tasks—such as grounding during panic attacks, medication reminders, or waking their handler up during night terrors, to name a few.
In addition to trained tasks, psychiatric service dogs provide a sense of structure that many veterans say they’ve been missing after service. Whether it’s the training process or the act of daily walks and play, these routines get veterans out of the house, moving, and re-engaging with the world around them. These simple, yet meaningful daily interactions alone can play a big role in restoring a sense of normalcy and connection.
Another incredibly important benefit is that psychiatric service dogs can help rebuild trust and provide a true sense of comfort—especially after years of hypervigilance. They offer a bridge back to safety and vulnerability, creating a steady, loving, judgment-free bond.
Start Your Healing Journey with an Emotional Service Dog
One of the cited barriers to veterans receiving help is lack of access—whether that’s transportation, or the appointments conflict with their work or childcare schedule.
Knowing this, we at Fetch and More moved to an all-virtual learning model. By having 100% virtual psychiatric service dog training courses, we help ensure accessibility for all.
Our virtual training programs are designed to help veterans find that vital connection and purpose—whether through training a service dog for themselves or becoming a certified trainer to help others.
Getting started is simple, and if you have any questions, please fill out a contact form, email us, or call us at 201-914-8268.
