The challenges facing military veterans who return to civilian life in the United States are persistent and well documented. But for all the political outcry and attempts to improve military members' readjustments, veterans of all service eras face formidable obstacles related to mental health, substance abuse, employment, and — most damningly — homelessness. Homelessness Among U.S. Veterans synthesizes the new glut of research on veteran homelessness — geographic trends, root causes, effective and ineffective interventions to mitigate it — in a format that provides a needed reference as this public health fight continues to be fought. Codifying the data and research from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) campaign to end veteran homelessness, psychologist Jack Tsai links disparate lines of research to produce an advanced and elegant resource on a defining social issue of our time.

The only practical resource to focus solely on health issues specific to men Written by and for APRNs and PAs in the primary care setting, this is the first clinical reference to focus solely on managing health concerns that are specific to men. Filling a significant gap in knowledge about this patient group, the user-friendly reference delivers evidence-based guidelines for the day-to-day management of male patients. Designed for ease of use and quick access to information, the resource is divided into three sections: general men’s health, overview of special issues in men’s health, and urology and preventive cardiology. In addition to addressing the full gamut of urological and cardiac issues, the book discusses the basics of male physical assessment including sports assessment, male adolescent risk issues, musculoskeletal manifestations of stress in men, and health screening issues. Also covered are the aging male and physical activity, the health needs of male veterans, complementary and alternative health methods, chronic pain, high-risk MSM sexual health issues, and starting a men’s health clinic. Key Features: The only practical men’s health resource written specifically for APRNs and PAs by APRNs and PAs Organized to facilitate quick access to information Delivers evidence-based guidelines for men’s healthcare Written and edited by noted APRN and PA men’s health practitioners and faculty Addresses health issues in urology, cardiology treatment for men, and other health issues specific to men

In this book, 50 experts study the lives of U.S. veterans at work, at home, and in American society as they navigate issues regarding health, gender, public service, substance abuse, and homelessness. The aftermath of modern war includes a population of veterans whose needs last for many decades—far longer than the war itself. This in-depth study looks at life after the military, considering the dual conundrum of a population benefiting from the perks of their duty, yet continuing to deal with trauma resulting from their service, and of former servicemen and servicewomen trying to fit into civilian life—in a system designed to keep them separate. Through two comprehensive volumes, essays shed light on more than 30 topics involving or affecting former servicemen and servicewomen, offering a blueprint for the formal study of U.S. veterans in the future. Contributions from dozens of experts in the field of military science cover such issues as unemployment, homelessness, disability, access to higher education, health, media portrayal, criminal justice, substance abuse, guns, suicide, and politics. Through information gleaned from surveys, interviews, participant observations, secondary analyses, and content analyses, the chapters reveal how veterans are able to successfully contribute to civilian life and show how the American workforce can benefit from their unique set of skills.

This completely revised and enlarged 2nd edition of The Tobacco Epidemic provides a comprehensive update of the clinical, public health and political aspects of tobacco smoking. Since its 1st edition in 1997, knowledge on the health hazards of tobacco and nicotine addiction has increased considerably, but recent data has shown that the global problem has become more aggravated in low- and middle-income countries: if current trends continue, tobacco smoking will be responsible for the deaths of 1 billion people in the 21st century. Written by outstanding international experts, the book covers the history of tobacco production and use, the economics of tobacco use and control, as well as the health consequences of active and passive smoking in both adults and children. Special chapters discuss the impact of media, movies and TV on tobacco consumption in young people, the patterns and predictors of smoking cessation in the general population and in different social subgroups, and initiatives supported by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Readers will find the latest information on how nicotine dependence is treated with nicotine replacement products, what role health care professionals play in helping smokers to quit and what effects smoke-free environments, advertising bans and price increases have on smoking prevalence. The potential harms and benefits of smokeless tobacco, waterpipe tobacco smoking and electronic cigarettes are also evaluated. This book is a must-read for anyone in the medical profession who treats patients with smoking-related diseases and for those engaged in tobacco control. It will also be appreciated by interested nonmedical readers like journalists and legislators.

This book provides nurses, clinicians, practitioners, educators and students working with vulnerable and underserved populations with essential information on effective wellness strategies to address inadequate nutrition, promote physical activity, and reduce perceived stress through an integrative health nursing framework. It begins with an overview of cultural humility, health inequities, and social justice, establishing the need for an integrative health nursing framework. In turn, the book addresses a broad range of interventions; particular attention is given to wellness strategies designed to prevent the adverse effects of poor nutrition, perceived stress, and lack of physical activity. Written by respected experts in the field, the book offers readers valuable insights into strategies for working with vulnerable populations. Accordingly, it will appeal to researchers working to diminish health inequities among vulnerable populations, and will be of particular interest to nursing educators, practitioners, and students.

Approximately 4 million U.S. service members took part in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shortly after troops started returning from their deployments, some active-duty service members and veterans began experiencing mental health problems. Given the stressors associated with war, it is not surprising that some service members developed such mental health conditions as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorder. Subsequent epidemiologic studies conducted on military and veteran populations that served in the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq provided scientific evidence that those who fought were in fact being diagnosed with mental illnesses and experiencing mental healthâ€"related outcomesâ€"in particular, suicideâ€"at a higher rate than the general population. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the quality, capacity, and access to mental health care services for veterans who served in the Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn. It includes an analysis of not only the quality and capacity of mental health care services within the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also barriers faced by patients in utilizing those services.

Military service members and veterans are perhaps particularly vulnerable to sexual dysfunction given some common experiences in the military and during combat deployments. Deployment to a combat theater is an inherently stressful experience, made worse with actual combat exposure and other physical and psychological hardships and trauma. This in turn contributes to higher rates of physical damage (including traumatic brain injury and amputations), post-traumatic stress disorder, and unhealthy coping mechanisms (alcohol and substance abuse). Medications commonly prescribed to treat or manage these conditions can also contribute to sexual dysfunction. Perhaps worst of all, the most intense period of experiencing these complications is likely to occur in the service member’s or veteran’s 20s and early 30s, the life stage at which most Americans are dating, selecting a partner, and creating a family. Sexual dysfunction can have significant impacts on all of those important activities. This book serves as an authoritative resource for military service members, veterans, and those who love them, on all manner of sexual health issues. Starting with an introduction to the basic concepts of sexual health, Helmer then goes on to discuss the effects of combat on overall health, sexual health and function, and differences in those effects on men and women. Including Veterans’ stories throughout, the book illustrates some of the challenges and complex situations empathically and in nonjudgmental terms. While many service members join and experience combat before the age of 30, the author also considers the effects of aging and life stage on sexual health and function in military personnel. Finally, Helmer clearly articulates a process for determining if there is a sexual health issue that rises to the level of a problem and what can be done about it. This is handled with a positive, hopeful tone and general, yet effective, suggestions on where and how to seek assistance.