Addressing the prevalence of suicide among veterans has become a priority for many members of the military community, and a recent report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) indicates there's more work to be done. The VA inspector general says that as many as one-third of veterans deemed to be at a high risk for suicide do not attend follow-up appointments with mental health professionals, Military Times reports.

The study was based on an analysis of 215 cases reviewed during several months in 2012. Researchers found that 65 of the patients did not have the recommended four visits with a mental healthcare professional in the 30 days after being discharged from the hospital. Making the findings even more troubling is the fact that there was a lack of follow up on the part of healthcare providers even in the case of missed appointments.

The report mentioned that staff failed to document whether their were follow-up attempts for around 8 percent of patients who missed appointments. 

This isn't the first time the VA has encountered criticism for the way it treats mental health conditions. In fact, a report released earlier this year determined that veterans seeking mental health treatment have to wait an average of 50 days for an appointment, according to Stars and Stripes.

Physical therapy comes in many different forms, and a new bill being proposed in Congress could make sure that TRICARE covers all kinds of treatment. The legislation, sponsored by a trio of lawmakers, would make sure that the popular health benefits program covers any physical therapy recommended by physicians regardless of whether it is deemed experimental, Military Times reports. 

The issue came to the forefront last year when Kaitlyn Samuels, the 16-year-old daughter of Navy Capt. Mark Samuels, was denied coverage for horse therapy, which had proven to be effective at managing the symptoms of cerebral palsy. The coverage stopped after the therapy was deemed experimental, but this proposed legislation would change that restriction and open up new channels of treatments to many troops and their families. 

"Our bill simply corrects discrimination and would ensure that beneficiaries receive rehabilitative therapies that are prescribed by a patient's physician and included in a patient's individualized plan of care authorized by his or her physical therapist," Congressman Michael Burgess, one of the bill's sponsors, wrote to fellow lawmakers.

Should the bill become law, it could have a far reaching impact on many servicemembers and veterans living with PTSD and other conditions. Specifically, a growing body of evidence suggests that therapy dogs can help manage PTSD symptoms by boosting levels of the hormone oxytocin, according to Smithsonian magazine. 

Frequent moves are one of the greatest challenges the military community faces. Known as permanent changes of station (PCS), not only can they be stressful, but the moves often cause significant financial concerns. So it should come as no surprise that approximately half of the complaints the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) receives from veterans and servicemembers relate to issues such as mortgages and foreclosures, according to Military Times.

Complaints don't tell the whole story
The figures come from an analysis of data by the CFPB's Office of Servicemember Affairs and revealed that more than 3,400 complaints received in 2012 were from troops, their family members or veterans. While that comprises just about 4 percent of the total complaints received, officials say the issues could be particularly troubling for troops. Specifically, servicemembers have to move more regularly than the civilian population, which means problems relating to mortgages, loans and other payments could have a greater impact on them. Still, Holly Petraeus, the assistant director of the Office of Servicemember Affairs, says more analysis is needed to know exactly what these findings mean.

"I'd like to have more complaints in there before we start drawing conclusions," she told the publication. "With more complaints, maybe their profile won't be the same."

Increasing legislative efforts
Over the last several years there has been an increasing effort on the part of lawmakers to ensure that predatory lenders are less capable of targeting servicemembers who may already be struggling financially. In fact, Petraeus was recently making the rounds to speak to troops about the importance of vigilance when it comes to these unscrupulous practices. In April, she spoke at Fort Bliss in Texas to discuss the role financial security plays in readiness reports CBS affiliate KENS.

"It's a readiness issue," she told the gathered crowd. "The number one cause for servicemembers losing their security clearance is for financial reasons."

More than just mortgages
While mortgages complaints topped the list, the analysis revealed some other interesting findings regarding what is causing troops the greatest financial issues. Approximately 20 percent related to concerns surrounding credit cards while 4 percent related to student loans. Officials say that about 10 percent of these complaints resulted in troops receiving some form of financial assistance. 

As the Armed Forces draws down operations in Afghanistan, the need to address mental health concerns comes more into focus. Suicide prevention and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are among the most pressing matters in the military community, and one senator from Indiana has proposed a new way to address the issue. Senator Joe Donnelly has crafted the Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act, a bill designed to require yearly mental heath assessments for active duty troops and reserve members, Military Times reports.

Need for broader approach
Donnelly says that while there are helpful programs available to many servicemembers, sometimes some people fall through the cracks. Furthermore, he says behaviors that could signal someone who is struggling with the effects of PTSD can be missed by peers, coworkers and family members so it's important to have a professional screenings on a regular basis.

"If problems or risk factors are identified, servicemembers would be referred to behavioral health specialists," Donnelly told Congress, adding that these regular screenings could provide servicemembers with a record they can take with them after they've left the Armed Forces to improve their healthcare once they've reached veteran status.

Focus on transition grows
While Donnelly's proposed bill would be a nationwide effort, there are also initiatives taking place on a much smaller scale. For instance, the Army recently opened Embedded Behavioral Health clinics with each brigade on post, reports CBS affiliate WTVF. The program has been particularly effective at Kentucky's Fort Campbell, where the clinics have given soldiers the chance to visit with mental healthcare professionals without having to wait for an appointment.

A substantial need
Whether through proposed legislation or programs on base, addressing the mental health of servicemembers is critical, especially as thousands of troops are expected to separate from service in the coming years. Suicide prevention came to the forefront in 2012 after statistics revealed a record number of servicemembers took their own lives. According to NBC News, more than 349 troops committed suicide last year, a figure which was higher than the total number of servicemembers killed in action. Furthermore, with an estimated 20 percent of troops affected by PTSD, addressing mental health is one of the most important issues facing the community. 

It might seem like an amputation would derail any future military plans, but Sgt. 1st Class Greg Robinson, who recently became the first amputee to complete the grueling Army air assault school, proved that assumption wrong. Although his prosthetic leg broke twice during the challenging course, his achievement is testament to an impressive recovery, Army Times reports.

Robinson lost part of his leg after he was wounded in Afghanistan in 2006, but that did not stop him from completing a course that would be challenging for nearly everyone. The Army air assault school includes such challenges as obstacle courses, rappelling down ropes and 12-mile marches carrying full equipment. Robinson felt the need to complete the school especially after he was telling his fellow soldiers to do so.

"Right now, I am a platoon sergeant," Robinson told the news source. "I have roughly 30 men in my platoon. As a leader, I didn't want to tell my soldiers that they needed to go to air assault school if I am not air assault qualified."

Robinson is not alone. According to the Department of Defense, more than 1,500 service members required an amputation as a result of injuries suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan. 

Since she launched the Joining Forces initiative, first lady Michelle Obama has been one of the leading advocates for helping members of the military community find fulfilling employment opportunities. On Monday, she announced the creation of the IT Training and Certification Partnership – a push to help servicemembers earn certification for information technology (IT) jobs so they can land employment soon after separating from service. 

A year in the making
The new program, which is a public-private collaboration, comes after the Department of Defense (DOD) created the Military Credentialing and Licensing Task Force last year in an effort to identify where servicemembers transitioning to civilian life can find jobs. Not only that, but the task force was focused on making it easier for troops to gain access to licensing and credentialing programs. Officials hope that the partnership will provide job opportunities to around 161,000 servicemembers.

Big names contributing 
The partnership includes some of the biggest names in the IT world. Microsoft has said that it will not only provide 500 exam vouchers to help servicemembers earn certifications, but it will also partially underwrite the expenses associated with its training programs Hewlett-Packard has also thrown its hat in the ring with the HP ExpertOne program. This initiative is meant to provide servicemember s with hands-on experiences that will help them find jobs once they leave the Armed Forces. Other well-known companies playing a role include Oracle, Cisco Systems and NetApp.

Efforts made on a smaller level
While the most recent partnership is on a large scale, states are making efforts on their own to help lower the unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans. For instance, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed the Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013 into law earlier this month, and Obama was by his side for the ceremony. Much like the IT Training and Certification Partnership, the bill was designed to make the certification process easier and less complicated. 

"This is about improving the financial security for thousands of military families," Obama said during the bill signing. "It's about giving veterans and their spouses an opportunity to build their careers and create a better future for their children."

For troops that already have certification, part of the challenge is finding employers in need of new workers. AFBA's Career Center makes that easier by connection troops with companies that are actively hiring. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the biggest issues facing the military community, and a group of health experts recently shed some light on the best course of action to address the condition. Speaking in front of dozens of onlookers, a group of North Carolina doctors said that PTSD can be managed effectively, but there is no cure, reports the Fayetteville Observer. 

The discussion surrounding PTSD is particularly relevant in Fayetteville given its large military community thanks to Fort Bragg. While the revelation that there's no cure may seem like bad news, panelists made sure to point to the fact that many of the symptoms of PTSD can be managed with support from the medical community and soldiers' family members.

"Support them," Molly VanDuser, a national certified counselor, told those in attendance. "That way, when (soldiers) get back, you'll have a pulse on them."

Aside from support, there are other ways for troops with PTSD to mitigate their symptoms. For instance, members of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., have turned to a holistic approach that focuses on physical and mental wellness to combat the condition, according to The Leaf Chronicle. 

Of all the sequester-related spending cuts, few have been met with such fierce criticism as the decision to reduce the annual military pay raise to 1 percent – its lowest in decades. White House officials say that the move is a necessary one, especially since Congress has refused to slash spending on weapons systems. Still, many members of the military community are unhappy with the decision at a time when thousands of troops are still serving in Afghanistan, reports USA Today.

Lower raise a trade-off
Top officials from the White House and the Department of Defense (DOD) say that the lower raises were enacted in an effort to maintain readiness levels, training capabilities and other benefits many military families use. This explanation has not been sitting well with some people, however, especially Joyce Raezer. The executive director of the National Military Family Association said they should not be forced to choose.

"We understand that funding training and readiness are vital to the servicemember and the Department of Defense, but why should something this important be an either-or?" she told the publication.

Considerable savings
Most years, the annual pay raise is linked to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employment Cost Index, and if that were the case servicemembers would see a 1.8 percent raise in 2014. However, by lowering that to 1 percent, the Pentagon will save an estimated $540 million – certainly no small figure when the DOD is looking to trim billions of dollars in spending over the next several months as a result of sequestration.

TRICARE not immune to changes
Lower raises are not the only proposed changes that may irk many members of the military community. As part of the recently released 2014 budget, the Pentagon has a plan that could increase TRICARE fees for working-age retirees under 65, according to Military Times. Specifically, the enrollment fees for TRICARE Prime would increase over the next four years, eventually rising to $594 by 2018.

These changes could affect a large portion of the military population in the coming years as many soldiers prepare to separate from service. Officials estimate that about 300,000 soldiers will leave the service each year for the next four years.

Transitioning from military service into civilian life poses a number of challenges, not the least of which is finding a job. The Department of Defense (DOD) has placed a heavy emphasis on making this process a bit easier, and one of its latest efforts is Hero 2 Hired, a website launched in 2011 that provides a place for job seekers to post their resumes for prospective employers, Army News Service reports.

Since its inception by the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, the website has been a popular tool. An estimated 109,000 soldiers have made use of the site, while more than 12,000 employers have visited to look for potential employees. Col. Rob Yost, director of Transition Strategic Outreach, says that the website can help highlight the many skills soldiers develop during their time in the military.

"In the infantry [and in other military occupational specialties], soldiers learn the value of teamwork, know how to lead a group and value mission accomplishment," he told the news source. "These are highly sought-after skills in corporate America."

Hire 2 Heroes is one of many initiatives meant to help bring down the unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans, and several of them have paid off. However, the rate still sits at 9.6 percent – more than 1.5 percent higher than the civilian population. 

Christy McAnally, a teacher Landstown Middle School in Virginia Beach, knows firsthand how challenging it is to be the child of someone in the military. Her father was a Marine pilot and as a result she spent much of her childhood on the move. Now, she puts her unique experiences to good use, reaching out to military children at her school though the BRATs Club, which she founded nearly three years ago, reports The Virginian-Pilot reports.

BRAT stands for British Regiment Attached Traveler and was used overseas as a way to describe the children and spouses of servicemembers. The club attracts more than two dozen youngsters who have parents in the military. Aside from giving them a chance to share experiences with people who are going through the same thing, the members also do considerable amounts of community service. But perhaps most importantly, McAnally hopes her club can help military children recognize that there is someone to help them through the challenges.

"I was seeing there were students who all had that BRAT experience in common but didn't know that about one another," she told the newspaper. "That conversation had to take place. And I thought it was important to have an adult in their lives who grew up feeling the same things they feel."

The students at Landstown Middle School certainly aren't alone when it comes to knowing the challenges of military life. An estimated 1.8 million children have at least one parent in the military.