If you are a veteran struggling with insomnia, you are not alone.

In the past, sleep issues were not the focus of mental or physical health treatment in veterans. But in recent years, as research has estimated that over half of post 9/11 veterans suffer with insomnia, things have changed. Sleep treatments are improving, and can be extremely effective without the side effects commonly associated with heavy sleep medications. Repairing sleep problems can be a major boost to the near-term and long-term health, and has become a primary focus of clinicians and researchers.

Recommendations for Veterans 
For veterans with sleep problems who are not currently in treatment for sleep disturbances, we recommend the following:

For veterans with VA healthcare: 

• Make sure to bring up sleep issues in a primary care or mental health appointment 

• Ask specifically about sleep clinics or specialty sleep experts in your VA health care network

• Bring up Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) as a potential option

• Try and be open new pharmacological options that may be a fit for you 

For veterans with healthcare outside the VA

• Discuss insomnia with either a primary care provider or mental health practitioner

• Discuss referrals to specialists with expertise in insomnia 

• Ask if they have knowledge of veteran-specific insomnia treatment options and / or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

• Try and be open new pharmacological options that may be a fit for you

If you do not have access to insomnia treatments under the supervision of a professional:

• The National Center for PTSD has a reputable and effective mobile app for self-starters:

• https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/cbticoach_app_public.asp

• Try and connect with veteran support organizations in your area (e.g. Vet Centers) who may have pathways to insomnia resources for veterans

The implications of insomnia extend far beyond the daily challenges of poor nights of sleep. When untreated, sleep disturbance can substantially reduce quality of life. In the long term, insomnia is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular problems, immune system functioning problems, and neurodegenerative diseases.

For the research and military care community, these are all priorities. By focusing on insomnia, Heart and Armor is improving detection, prevention and treatment of insomnia to improve quality of life in a significant proportion of the veteran community. We also aim to prevent some long term consequences in overall health by accelerating new treatments for sleep disturbances, particularly in those who suffer with post traumatic stress.

The benefits of addressing veterans' sleep issues extend beyond the military community - the tools and treatments developed for veterans can help civilians address their sleep problems as well.