Combat takes a toll on soldiers. Those serving in the military often return home with physical scars they received while serving their country. However, physical injuries are just part of what veterans must deal with.

Often, a soldier’s wounds affect them physically, mentally and emotionally. To be effective, healing for those wounds must involve an integrative and comprehensive approach. It cannot focus solely on physical or mental issues. It must understand that those elements are interconnected.

For example, physical injuries can affect a veteran’s mental and emotional health. Post-traumatic stress disorder, which is considered a mental health issue, can have physical manifestations. Because of the complexity of these issues, a single-faceted approach to healing is not enough.

To help veterans overcome their health challenges, Mission22, the organization I serve as CEO, recommends what we call “full circle” healing. A circle serves as the perfect illustration for the type of healing veterans need. It is a complete loop with no gaps, representing the interconnectivity of all things.

Full circle healing is an approach to health care based on the understanding that healing must address body, mind and spirit. It recognizes that simply treating symptoms or issues without understanding and addressing their underlying causes will never bring true healing.

This powerful approach to healing also acknowledges that healing does not occur in a vacuum. A veteran’s environment, relationships, family support, purposeful work and community are also key elements that drive and support healing. Those factors are as crucial to a veteran’s healing journey as medical and psychological treatment.

Full circle healing relies heavily on veterans achieving science-based wellness. Our modern understanding of human health, especially in mental health, has grown exponentially in recent years thanks to scientific research. Leveraging that research to develop science-backed methodologies provides the best path for veterans to find healing.

Physical exercise provides an excellent example of the way science-based wellness supports full circle healing. Science has taught us that physical exercise has benefits that far exceed strengthening our muscles. It also strengthens our minds. Physical exercise is a critical part of full circle healing because it has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood, and boost overall mental health. 

Nutrition is another example of a powerful tool for healing supported by scientific research. Research shows that a person’s diet has a significant impact on their mental health. Consequently, helping veterans establish a healthy diet is a key component of full circle healing.

When a veteran or active member of the military experiences challenges — whether physical, mental or emotional — they impact the entire family. Issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and the transition to civilian life strain family relationships, as well as triggering secondary stress for spouses, children and other family members. Providing full circle healing means providing care to the family.

Providing care to families is especially important because it strengthens the veteran’s support system. In trying times, veterans will look to those in their family to reassure and encourage them. Full circle healing helps the entire family navigate the challenges they face, so that no one needs to feel alone or abandoned.

Suicide rates reveal the great need for full circle healing in the veteran community. According to the 2019 Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report prepared by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 17 veterans died by suicide each day in 2017, which is significantly higher than the suicide rate of the general population. In 2022, a study known as “Operation Deep Dive“ conducted by America’s Warrior Partnership and the University of Alabama revealed that the problem is even worse than previously thought. An interim report on the study’s findings suggests that veterans take their own lives each year at a rate approximately 2.4 times greater than previously reported by the VA.

While suicide represents the most severe impact of veteran health issues, it is not the only one that is disheartening. Veterans also suffer from PTSD and homelessness in numbers that are disproportionately higher than the rest of the population. The prevalence of these issues in the veteran community highlights the dire need for robust and comprehensive initiatives aimed at improving veteran health.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to veterans’ health. The wounds they carry are unique, as is the impact those wounds have on their lives and the lives of those around them. The complex nature of those wounds is best served by the holistic approach that full circle healing provides.

Sara Johnson is the CEO of Mission22, an organization founded by veterans to provide extensive, personalized support and resources to help veterans and their families thrive. Growing up in a family of warriors, she has seen firsthand the way battle affects those who serve, from the positive aspects of being part of a community to the realities of post-traumatic stress. Mission22 was started as a personal mission to support her Green Beret husband through his struggles with transitioning out of the military, but it has turned into a national charge to end veteran suicide in America.