In leading a life of service and violence to defend their countries, many army veterans are plagued by mental health disorders that have lasting effects on their lives post deployment. One of the most common diagnoses for veterans is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which arises as a result of living through or witnessing traumatic events. PTSD generally manifests in the form of flashbacks, nightmares, and mood changes, and can be characterized by a detachment from loved ones and society. 

Having understood the plight of war veterans, San Diego artist Elizabeth Washburn founded the Combat Arts San Diego nonprofit organization. This program teaches and encourages distressed veterans to express their suffering through art and sculpture making. Elizabeth Washburn, in acknowledging the therapeutic aspects of art, has catered this program towards incarcerated teens as well, in hopes of helping them find healing and closure away from the system. The organization offers visual arts classes to both active and inactive soldiers who served during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. In one show in 2013, these pieces were featured in an exhibit at the Southwestern University art gallery. Learning to create, critique, and present art has helped numerous veterans in the program to manage stress and find hope in their futures. Washburn continues to expand her project today, aspiring to touch as many lives as she can through art therapy.

Image Credit: Sgt. Ken Scarr, Combat Arts San Diego : https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1022629/art-combat-veterans