Support veterans ' mental health needs

[Monkeyman]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/284962_adamsmith14.html

Twenty-one percent of Fort Lewis soldiers returned from Iraq were deemed "at risk" for post-traimatic stress disorder. Between 15 percent and 17 percent of all combat troops returning from Afghanistan or Iraq suffer from depression, anxiety or PTSD.

These brave men and women fight for our freedom and we should support their mental health needs. Unforunately, our national veterans outreach relies on unclear criteria for mental health referrals and on veterans seeking treatment on thier own. Enhanced mental health screening and outreach would hellp veterans get needed support.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported in 2004 that the stigma surrounding mental health care is the greatest barrier to veterans recieving proper treatment. Many soldiers fear mental diagnoses could ruin thier career.We can ease that stigma by requiring screening with a mental health professional for all combat veterans rather thann singling out troops from their peers.

[fed-up]

1. worse than that-1/3 of recent war veterans may need mental health care

http://www.veteransforamerica.org/index.cfm/Page/Article/ID/7873
Published September 9, 2006

Veterans’ Health Care

To the Editor, New York Times:

As a former Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters project manager who monitored returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, I agree with Paul Krugman’s comment that the V.A. is a stunning success for quality medical care (“Health Policy Malpractice,’’ column, Sept. 4). But the V.A. is running full steam into a brick wall because of a lack of capacity.

Why? This administration failed to plan for the consequences of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The V.A. fell $3 billion short last year, and both wait times and the doctor-to-patient ratio rose.

Nearly 1.5 million men and women have been deployed to war since 2001. Army research indicates that one-third of recent war veterans may need mental health care. The V.A. can expect a staggering 500,000 combat veteran mental health patients in the next few years.

Sadly, Dr. Frances Murphy, the V.A.’s deputy under secretary for health, confirmed the V.A.’s lack of capacity this May, saying some V.A. clinics do not provide mental health or substance abuse care, or if they do, “waiting lists render that care virtually inaccessible.” Without adequate financing and a comprehensive plan to increase capacity, the V.A. may spiral further into crisis and buckle under a tidal wave of demand.

Paul Sullivan
Washington
Sept. 4, 2006
The writer, a Persian Gulf war veteran, is director of programs at Veterans for America.




and a video here

http://www.veteransforamerica.org/index.cfm/Page/Article/ID/7814

Experts say Iraq war may have highest rate of combat stress victims. CNN's Gary Nurenberg reports. Interview with Veterans for America's Bobby Muller and Steve Robinson. Click here to view video.

[Deja Q]

2. The politicians need to know that more than the rest of us.

All of us can say "thank you". But without one's own government doing its own part, it's pointless. People fight for their country and deserve fair treatment. (And if you ask me, the elimination of vet benefits is hardly a "thank you". It's more of a "f..." never mind.)

[midnight]

3. Very important health issue toward keeping our troops

stable. It's like not treating a limb injury or a sexually transmitted disease. Why don't we look at ourselfs as the dimensional beings that we are. I know people that are qualified to do this work, but this administration has taken those funds away from the medical community to do this work.