What is the Mental Health of our Soldiers

It has been termed everything from 'Soldier's Heart', 'Shell Shock', 'Combat Fatigue', but now it is best known as 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder'. As described by WIKIPEDIA PTSD is the term used to describe a severe and on-going emotional reaction that results from exposure to extreme stress and/or trauma. Clinically, such events involve actual or threatened death, serious physical injury, or a threat to physical and/or psychological integrity, to a degree that usual psychological defenses are incapable of coping with the impact. It is occasionally called post-traumatic stress reaction to emphasize that it is a result of traumatic experience rather than a manifestation of a pre-existing psychological condition.

Recently, there have been reports that the DoD has had a record of classifying clinical diagnosis of PTSD as being cases of Pre-existing conditions. This allows the DoD to release soldiers, at the end of their enlistments, without the appropriate treatment for mental disorders attributed to the combat duty they have experienced. This attempt by the military to undermine the mental affects of combat stress, then prevents returning soldiers from receivng appropriate treatment from the Veterans Administration due to an inaccuacurate documentation of their mental state in their militay records.

As reported by Military.com, the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, in releasing its final report Wednesday, recommended getting “DoD completely out of the disability business” by giving VA sole responsibility for setting disability ratings and awarding compensation. Disabled service members would see the current “confusing, parallel systems of ratings and compensation” replaced by a single, simple and more generous system.

The history of the DoD's responsibility for treating our wounded soldiers has been well documented, in regard to the lack of care and the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Hospital. The worst evaluations of the system were aimed at the wards that dealt with soldiers suffering from mental health issues. In my own state of Washington, the senior Senator on the committee that administers the Veterans Administration was appalled by the conditions of facilities available for veterans being treated for mental health issues.

When we send our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, to fight a battle for the preservation of our American ideals, by the directive of our Supreme Commander, shouldn't our government protect these brave soldiers just as well, after their return, as when they are under fire by enemy combatants?

As I have talked to my son over the nearly twelve months of his deployment, I have noticed changes in his demeanor and he has talked about some of the issues he has, such as sleep depravation and the fact that it seems that he is constantly on a mission or needs to sleep, and has been much less communicative with family of late. I am sure that he is no better or worse off than most of his fellow soldiers, and as time goes by during their deployment these issues could become prevalent and/or serious. I only hope that all of the efforts that are discussed above are realistic and available to our service men and women as they are redied to return home.

Our president obviously disagrees, as he has vetoed funding to provide those services, and his party has refused to back measures submitted, that would provide increased funding for the treatment of our returning soldiers.

We, as the loved ones of our dedicated soldiers, can only hope that the legislation, as reported above is reality. I believe that the military is genuinely concerned with the issue of PTSD. Several months ago I received a link to a podcast regarding the mental health issues our servicemen are facing and what the DoD is doing to address these issues. Col. Robert Ireland recently spoke with Dr. Ellen Frank, host of The Down & Up Show, about mental health programs for returning veterans and their families. Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) also discussed pending legislation that would benefit veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. For more information on depression, including resources for coping with depression, visit the DepressionIsReal.org website. The podcast is no longer available, but Col. Ireland spoke extensively about how platoon level leadership has received extensive training in personnel evaluation and motivation and establishment of extensive pre-deployment (for returning soldiers) screening at multiple levels starting with councelors, and if necessary mental health experts. Finally, upon arrival at their home base, continued evaluation and availability of long-term support. Perhaps, with the additional protection of the legislation discussed above, Our soldiers will not be precluded from receiving the medical services that are required to assure their ability to re-adapt to productive, healthy civilian lives.



Dennis