This is just the beginning. Our military personnel are suffering untold amount of stress with the multiple deployments they experience as a result of fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - it would appear that more troops (34,000 at first estimate) will be deployed to Afghanistan in coming months.
The massacre at Fort Hood is still on my mind. As one who suffers from PTSD from experiences witnessed and lived as a child, I know firsthand that this is something to be taken seriously. Many believe that PTSD is imagined and does not deserve treatment. Soldiers who suffer from mental health struggles are hesitant to be evaluated and treated for fear of being labeled incompetent and having their careers jeopardized.
This needs to end and soon - the Army is an amazing organization, providing stability and employment and protection to many - we as a public need to stand behind our troops and more importantly, we need to recognize the fragile mental state of returning troops from conflict zones.
Army bases in Europe are not open and bases in the US should not be either. In Europe, one has to show military ID to access the base as well as have an official logo on one's vehicle. Those were standard operating procedures years ago when I was an army wife - perhaps it is time to revisit them.
Showing posts with label mental health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mental health. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Don't ask, don't tell - or "Tell somebody, if you're thinking of suicide"
No, I am not talking about sexual orientation, though you would be right in assuming same.
In this post, I am going to address the insanity that is taking place all over the US military, particularly in recent months at Fort Campbell, KY. Suicide, ladies and gentlemen. It seems that 11 soldiers have committed suicide since January at that army base - the highest in the army - that is an average of 2 a month - this is insane, folks. We have a huge problem.
True to form, the army had the general and commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell address his troops. Was the tone warm and fuzzy, accepting and consoling? Hell no! He ORDERED them to cease and desist. I quote: "If you don't remember anything else I say in the next five or 10 minutes, remember this -- suicidal behavior in the 101st on Fort Campbell is bad," Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend told his forces. "It's bad for soldiers, it's bad for families, bad for your units, bad for this division and our army and our country and it's got to stop now. Suicides on Fort Campbell have to stop now."
My regular readers will recall my posts from earlier this year addressing this issue along with PTSD and how the military refuses to adequately address this problem within their ranks. To simply tell soldiers to stop killing themselves in an authoritarian tone is not going to solve the problem.
I was a military wife in another lifetime and also struggle with depression. I vividly recall my first overdose attempt - I was a new mother, and overwhelmed with the stress of living in yet another new place, away from family and friends - my husband at the time was facing a court martial and I felt so desperately alone. I took an untold number of pills and went to bed. I woke later, sad to be alive, and at the same time, grateful to have one friend whom I could call. The military doctors I saw did no follow up - they pumped my stomach, patched me up, put me on some anti depressants and essentially told me to live with it! Ouch!
I do not share this story to achieve pity, but rather to illustrate what happens when one is driven to desperate measures. Those serving in the military, those who are the uniform wearers and the unofficial military members - their job is increasingly difficult - the enemy is real - in some cases, at least in the case of this war - the enemy has been their lying government. VA hospitals continue to be woefully underfunded.
If a soldier admits to having a problem with mental health issues, he might be relieved of duty - that is, taken off assignment, relieved of his weapons - remember the recent shooting of 5 in Iraq by the soldier who had recently been relieved of his weapon? - shipped back to the US and any other number of unacceptable consequences might befall him or her.
Please read this article in its entirety and then call your congressperson - let them know that you support the troops but are concerned that they are stretched beyond their breaking points. We cannot simply continue to sweep the issue of mental illness under the rug - that elephant will not stay under the rug anymore - it is too damn visible - the carcass is rotting and the flies are swarming.
http://sprint.cnn.mlogic.mobi/cnn/ne/us/detail/311007
In this post, I am going to address the insanity that is taking place all over the US military, particularly in recent months at Fort Campbell, KY. Suicide, ladies and gentlemen. It seems that 11 soldiers have committed suicide since January at that army base - the highest in the army - that is an average of 2 a month - this is insane, folks. We have a huge problem.
True to form, the army had the general and commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell address his troops. Was the tone warm and fuzzy, accepting and consoling? Hell no! He ORDERED them to cease and desist. I quote: "If you don't remember anything else I say in the next five or 10 minutes, remember this -- suicidal behavior in the 101st on Fort Campbell is bad," Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend told his forces. "It's bad for soldiers, it's bad for families, bad for your units, bad for this division and our army and our country and it's got to stop now. Suicides on Fort Campbell have to stop now."
My regular readers will recall my posts from earlier this year addressing this issue along with PTSD and how the military refuses to adequately address this problem within their ranks. To simply tell soldiers to stop killing themselves in an authoritarian tone is not going to solve the problem.
I was a military wife in another lifetime and also struggle with depression. I vividly recall my first overdose attempt - I was a new mother, and overwhelmed with the stress of living in yet another new place, away from family and friends - my husband at the time was facing a court martial and I felt so desperately alone. I took an untold number of pills and went to bed. I woke later, sad to be alive, and at the same time, grateful to have one friend whom I could call. The military doctors I saw did no follow up - they pumped my stomach, patched me up, put me on some anti depressants and essentially told me to live with it! Ouch!
I do not share this story to achieve pity, but rather to illustrate what happens when one is driven to desperate measures. Those serving in the military, those who are the uniform wearers and the unofficial military members - their job is increasingly difficult - the enemy is real - in some cases, at least in the case of this war - the enemy has been their lying government. VA hospitals continue to be woefully underfunded.
If a soldier admits to having a problem with mental health issues, he might be relieved of duty - that is, taken off assignment, relieved of his weapons - remember the recent shooting of 5 in Iraq by the soldier who had recently been relieved of his weapon? - shipped back to the US and any other number of unacceptable consequences might befall him or her.
Please read this article in its entirety and then call your congressperson - let them know that you support the troops but are concerned that they are stretched beyond their breaking points. We cannot simply continue to sweep the issue of mental illness under the rug - that elephant will not stay under the rug anymore - it is too damn visible - the carcass is rotting and the flies are swarming.
http://sprint.cnn.mlogic.mobi/cnn/ne/us/detail/311007
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Purple Heart is ruled out for traumatic stress
Thanks for your time soldier, now deal with it! Not on our list of illnesses......
That is essentially what the Pentagon is telling some 300,000 sufferers of PTSD.
According to a NY Times story today, "a Pentagon advisory group decided against the award because, it said, the condition had not been intentionally caused by enemy action, like a bomb or bullet, and because it remained difficult to diagnose and quantify.
“Historically, the Purple Heart has never been awarded for mental disorders or psychological conditions resulting from witnessing or experiencing traumatic combat events,” said Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman. “Current medical knowledge and technologies do not establish PTSD as objectively and routinely as would be required for this award at this time.”
One in five service members, or at least 300,000, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, according to a Rand Corporation study in 2008.
For some soldiers suffering from the disorder, the historical distinction between blood and no blood in an injury fails to recognize the depths of their mental scars. A modern war — one fought without safe havens and with the benefit of improved armor — calls for a new definition of injuries, some veterans say."
Those of us with a mental illness continue to be stymied by society's lack of sympathy and even understanding of our illnesses.
I know of abuse victims who suffer from PTSD - years later, their lives are fractured, they are unable to trust openly and have difficulty in relationships and jobs, just like the military Vets with PTSD.
The mental health community needs to lobby - and hard to correct this grave injustice.
If you need help: www.nami.org
www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Or call your local VA hospital.
That is essentially what the Pentagon is telling some 300,000 sufferers of PTSD.
According to a NY Times story today, "a Pentagon advisory group decided against the award because, it said, the condition had not been intentionally caused by enemy action, like a bomb or bullet, and because it remained difficult to diagnose and quantify.
“Historically, the Purple Heart has never been awarded for mental disorders or psychological conditions resulting from witnessing or experiencing traumatic combat events,” said Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman. “Current medical knowledge and technologies do not establish PTSD as objectively and routinely as would be required for this award at this time.”
One in five service members, or at least 300,000, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, according to a Rand Corporation study in 2008.
For some soldiers suffering from the disorder, the historical distinction between blood and no blood in an injury fails to recognize the depths of their mental scars. A modern war — one fought without safe havens and with the benefit of improved armor — calls for a new definition of injuries, some veterans say."
Those of us with a mental illness continue to be stymied by society's lack of sympathy and even understanding of our illnesses.
I know of abuse victims who suffer from PTSD - years later, their lives are fractured, they are unable to trust openly and have difficulty in relationships and jobs, just like the military Vets with PTSD.
The mental health community needs to lobby - and hard to correct this grave injustice.
If you need help: www.nami.org
www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Or call your local VA hospital.
Friday, January 2, 2009
A focus on violence by GI's back from war
What a sobering headline and even more sobering story.
We are becoming used to the headlines by now. Iraqi war vet kills family, self. Iraqi GI commits suicide. Iraqi war vet beats girlfriend to a pulp. I have made up those headlines, but the stories are there nonetheless.
The amazing Ken Salazar, D - Colorado - Obama's pick for Secretary of the Interior - has called for an investigation into recent spikes in violent crimes committed at Fort Carson, Colorado. Many GI's have not just served once in Iraq, but have rotated several times - to the point that mental health counselors don't just ask whether they have been to Iraq, but how many times they have been deployed when meeting with clients initially.
The stigmas attached to mental health issues continue to plague our society. As one who manages bi-polar disorder, I am all too cognizant of how one is viewed when one has a mental disorder/illness/disability. Indeed, I was forced to resign from a beloved job only two years ago due to increased stress which exacerbated my illness and caused erratic mood swings and behavior.
I digress. The story can be found at this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/us/02veterans.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp As always, I encourage you to read the entire story instead of just my excerpts.
I wanted to share the following for those of you who won't have time to read the story today: "General Graham, whose oldest son, Jeff, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq a year after another son, Kevin, committed suicide, has made mental health a focus since taking command of Fort Carson in 2007. “I feel like I have to speak out for the Kevins of the world,” he said. Graham is the base commander at Fort Carson and his son was an ROTC shining star, on track to become a physician - when he started to experience depression, he was worried about how he would be viewed (dimly, from all statistics in and out of the military, unfortunately for Jeff) once he disclosed his illness. He hung himself at the tender age of 23.
I knew nothing of Ken Salazar prior to reading about him being nominated for his new position in Washington. We are all incredibly fortunate to have such an advocate at the highest levels in government.
If there are any readers out there who are struggling with depression, help can be found here:
www.nami.org 1-888-999-6264 - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
www.nmha.org 1-800-969-6642 - National Mental Health Association
www.craigslist.org - for those of you who want to attend support groups for people with depression - look under "community."
Last week I learned that I have been accepted into Mercy College here in the NYC area where I will study social work. Ultimately, it is my desire to get an MPA/MSW so that I can help those who struggle with social issues, mental health issues and those who are the marginalized in society. There is an overwhelming amount of work to be done, but it must be done. Let's roll up our sleeves and spend some time volunteering at our local VA or crisis center.
We are becoming used to the headlines by now. Iraqi war vet kills family, self. Iraqi GI commits suicide. Iraqi war vet beats girlfriend to a pulp. I have made up those headlines, but the stories are there nonetheless.
The amazing Ken Salazar, D - Colorado - Obama's pick for Secretary of the Interior - has called for an investigation into recent spikes in violent crimes committed at Fort Carson, Colorado. Many GI's have not just served once in Iraq, but have rotated several times - to the point that mental health counselors don't just ask whether they have been to Iraq, but how many times they have been deployed when meeting with clients initially.
The stigmas attached to mental health issues continue to plague our society. As one who manages bi-polar disorder, I am all too cognizant of how one is viewed when one has a mental disorder/illness/disability. Indeed, I was forced to resign from a beloved job only two years ago due to increased stress which exacerbated my illness and caused erratic mood swings and behavior.
I digress. The story can be found at this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/us/02veterans.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp As always, I encourage you to read the entire story instead of just my excerpts.
I wanted to share the following for those of you who won't have time to read the story today: "General Graham, whose oldest son, Jeff, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq a year after another son, Kevin, committed suicide, has made mental health a focus since taking command of Fort Carson in 2007. “I feel like I have to speak out for the Kevins of the world,” he said. Graham is the base commander at Fort Carson and his son was an ROTC shining star, on track to become a physician - when he started to experience depression, he was worried about how he would be viewed (dimly, from all statistics in and out of the military, unfortunately for Jeff) once he disclosed his illness. He hung himself at the tender age of 23.
I knew nothing of Ken Salazar prior to reading about him being nominated for his new position in Washington. We are all incredibly fortunate to have such an advocate at the highest levels in government.
If there are any readers out there who are struggling with depression, help can be found here:
www.nami.org 1-888-999-6264 - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
www.nmha.org 1-800-969-6642 - National Mental Health Association
www.craigslist.org - for those of you who want to attend support groups for people with depression - look under "community."
Last week I learned that I have been accepted into Mercy College here in the NYC area where I will study social work. Ultimately, it is my desire to get an MPA/MSW so that I can help those who struggle with social issues, mental health issues and those who are the marginalized in society. There is an overwhelming amount of work to be done, but it must be done. Let's roll up our sleeves and spend some time volunteering at our local VA or crisis center.
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