2021 Annual Warrior Survey
The greatest casualty is being forgotten and the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Annual Warrior Survey reminds us to never forget the service and sacrifice of those who served. As the largest, most comprehensive survey of wounded post-9/11 veterans, it gives warriors a platform to express concerns, voice their needs, and share their successes — ensuring that their voices never fall silent.
The 2021 survey findings demonstrate that, while the nation has ended most military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the effects of war and military operations can last a lifetime for wounded warriors. This critical data allows WWP to track and treat warriors’ most pressing needs and to urge those with the power to make a difference, to do what’s right.
The video below highlights some of the key findings of the 2021 Annual Warrior Survey, providing a glimpse of the robust data found in the full report.
The 2021 survey found that nearly 1 in 4 warriors had suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months. Of the warriors who reported these suicidal thoughts, most (70%) had them in the last two weeks.
Mental health continues to be a critical concern for post-9/11 wounded warriors. Get the full picture — click here to download the 2021 executive summary.
Nearly all WWP warriors (98%) reported exposure to hazardous or toxic substances during military service, yet only 9% have received treatment at the VA for their exposure.
Read more about exposures, treatment, and exposure-related health concerns in the 2021 executive summary. Click here to download.
More than 2 in 5 WWP warriors (42%) reported that they did not have enough money to make ends meet at some point in the past 12 months.
The 2021 executive summary covers key topics like financial strain and barriers to employment. Click here to download.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
Women Warriors Initiative
The Annual Warrior Survey has found that women warriors experience certain challenges, such as military sexual trauma (MST), anxiety, and depression at higher rates than male warriors. WWP developed the Women Warriors Initiative to better understand these issues – conducting further research, including a survey of nearly 5,000 women warriors and more than a dozen roundtable discussions. The WWP Research and Government Affairs teams have prepared a report and executive summary detailing the findings and recommending practical, policy-centered solutions. Click here to download the executive summary. Click here to download the full report.
Invisible Wounds and COVID-19: Heightened Risk for Wounded Warriors
Generously funded by CSX: Further analysis of 2020 AWS data reveals the connection between invisible wounds and COVID-related challenges. Read more about the risk factors, how WWP is addressing them, and how other organizations and communities can support and protect warriors during this time. Click to download.
Women Warriors: Understanding PTSD Risk in a Rapidly Growing Population
To better understand the prevalence of PTSD among women warriors, and the experiences that contribute to it, WWP conducted a more in-depth analysis of 2020 Annual Warrior Survey data. This analysis highlights three major PTSD risk factors prevalent among women warriors: combat exposure, co-occurring mental health conditions, and military sexual trauma. Click to download.