The research shows that African Americans and Hispanics tend to suffer and develop PTSD more than Caucasians. This is attributed to the fact that most veterans that are African American and Hispanic come from communities where they truly are exposed to the lifestyles of minorities (Block, 2015). PTSD causes and effects on people of Latino and African American Communities that struggle with economic issues. So growing up in a city where gun shots all night and the fear of walking alone at night down particularly unsuitable areas is the classic norm you’re used to, then you are being cultivated to have some level of fear that shakes your mental stability at some point. Studies have been performed on PTSD and the effects of this illness among minorities of different cultural backgrounds based on the Vietnam …show more content…
This ethnic divide allowed for the evidence that shows more Vietnam Veterans are victims of PTSD than others. The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study, is one of many that showed these factors between the different minority groups after they leave the service (Loo, PhD, 2016). This study was performed in the 0’s and at that time the rates for PTSD Hispanic victims was 28%, while the rates were 21% for the African Americans and 14% for the White American veterans (Loo, PhD, 2016). These survivors of war tend to develop various medical problems that stem from the PTSD, like drug addictions, alcoholism, along with depression and possible suicide. They drink and use drugs to temporary relieve themselves of the symptoms of PTSD. But the relief is short lived when the effects of the addiction wear off, they are left feeling the same fears, and problems they tried to run from (Smith, M.A., Robinson, & Segal, Ph.D, 2016). Suicide is common, however some victims are unable to follow through with it and this leaves the family to handle the aftermath of those decisions and work through the things that brought their loved one to this point of self-doubt. This can be done through attending group counseling for not just the PTSD survivor but the family to allow healing and understanding of what caused them to develop PTSD. And how to