Peach Hedley
University of Melbourne, and Ballarat Base Hospital, Victoria.
Aust Fam Physician. 2006 Aug;35(8):619-22.
Vietnam veterans' war experiences have adversely affected their own mental health and that of one in 3 partners and one in 4-6 of their dependents, many of whom are reluctant to seek help.
This article reviews the health problems suffered by families of Australia's Vietnam veterans and discusses what the future might hold for these families, what the implications might be for families of veterans of more recent conflicts, and how general practitioners and divisions of general practice might help.
Mental illness of veterans' dependents may increase their risk of cardiovascular and other physical diseases, and their children's risk of psychological problems. Caring for veterans as they age may further strain the mental health of one in 3-4 partners and jeopardise their role as grandparents. General practitioners can help by paying attention to the mental health of veterans and their dependents, working with the families, providing education and support, assessing the need for individual or family counselling, encouraging veterans' dependents to use universal or Department of Veterans' Affairs services, and building dependent's and grandchildren's resilience.
越南战争退伍军人的战争经历对他们自身的心理健康产生了不利影响，对三分之一的伴侣以及四分之一至六分之一的家属的心理健康也产生了不利影响，其中许多人不愿寻求帮助。
本文回顾了澳大利亚越南战争退伍军人家庭所遭受的健康问题，并探讨了这些家庭的未来可能如何，对近期冲突退伍军人家庭可能有何影响，以及全科医生和全科医疗部门如何提供帮助。
退伍军人家属的精神疾病可能会增加他们患心血管疾病和其他身体疾病的风险，以及他们孩子出现心理问题的风险。在退伍军人年老时照顾他们可能会进一步使三分之一至四分之一的伴侣的心理健康受到压力，并危及他们作为祖父母的角色。全科医生可以通过关注退伍军人及其家属的心理健康、与家庭合作、提供教育和支持、评估个人或家庭咨询的需求、鼓励退伍军人家属使用通用或退伍军人事务部的服务，以及增强家属和孙辈的复原力来提供帮助。
