LEXINGTON (WACH) -- It’s estimated that as many as one-third of soldiers returning from combat experience depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. If left untreated, it can cause severe problems.
Two of Rhonda Foupht’s three children are struggling with symptoms of PTSD after serving overseas.
According to the Veterans Administration, re-integrating into civilian life for some soldiers is harder than going into war.
“My son left with a wife that wasn't even showing and came back to a toddler,” Foupht says.
On Thursday in Lexington, family and friends of soldiers listened to a panel of experts talk about the harsh reality of PTSD.
Chris Younts with Hidden Wounds, a non-profit organization that provides counseling to veterans says the number of clients they see on average has doubled in recent months.
“The most important thing a family can do is convince their soldier that they do need help,” Younts says.
As for Foupht, a mother of three veterans, she now has peace of mind knowing that her children are getting the proper care and that she is not alone in the battle against PTSD.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH