Women vets face challenges when returning home

BOSTON (WWLP) - A growing number of veterans who return home are women, and returning women veterans face a somewhat different set of challenges from their male counterparts.

Some of the challenges women vets face upon returning home are reestablishing family relationships, job discrimination, and mental health issues like post traumatic stress disorder.

The State House marked Women Veterans’ Appreciation Day this week, and while Massachusetts leads the nation in veterans’ services, state leaders said there is still work to be done in offering more assistance to women veterans. The Commonwealth offers programs like the Women Veterans’ Network to match women vets with resources and benefits.

Outstanding Woman Veteran of the Year and Deborah Sampson award winner MSG Carin Smith said help is available to young military women in need.

“There’s plenty of mentors to go out there to talk to guide them through, and there’s help everywhere, you just need to look around and it’s there to support them,” she said.

According to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs , there are about 27,000 women veterans living in Massachusetts. Women make up 12% of the national military, and are the fastest growing veteran population.