Joint Chiefs chairman wants PTSD screenings
Looks like universal screening is coming...I'm interested in who the "mental health professionals" will be.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/militar...-12-ptsd_N.htm
Quote:
The Pentagon's top uniformed officer is calling for all returning combat troops, from privates to generals, to undergo screening for post-traumatic stress with a mental health professional, a move aimed at stemming an epidemic of psychological issues among veterans.
Quote:
"I'm at a point where I believe we have to give a (mental health) screening to everybody to help remove the stigma of raising your hand," Mullen said. "Leaders must lead on this issue or it will affect us dramatically down the road."
No scientific backing just a thought
I have wonder for quite some time now about PTSD in todays services vs those in the past. I know there are entirely too many variables to really put a finger on it. My biggest questons are is it more widespread today because now people know what PTSD is and diagnose it as such or is it because society today is much easier than it was 20, 30, 50 years ago therefore people are not as desensitized as they were before. Having led easy, stress free lives today compartively to previous generations. I know the stresses today are different than in the past but generally speaking life is easier than in the past for most. Ultimately is it a combination of both? The services themselves are falling into the trap in mind as well of taking the stressors away that very well may have been the reasons for fewer cases in the past.
I wanted to touch on a previous post about the VFW and what therapy a case of beer and some good BBQ with those you were there with you can do for one. In my opinion it should be built into rotations, 2 weeks as a unit with lots of alcohol and good food, in some sweet resort for all in the unit to decompress and support each other. Part of the issue in my mind is that too many today have lost sight of what a "team" truely is. If only I was the hog with the fuzzy nuts.
Just curious what others thoughts are on these.
I am of the thought if we can figure out who is most and who is least suspect to PTSD then we assign them accordingly throughout the services. In my opinion prevention vs rehabilitation is where we need to look.
Couple of points on your good post.
First, recall that in WW I, WW II, Korea and Viet Nam, rotation was individual and not by unit. So you went to war, got through as part of a unit -- and then returned to CONUS as a single soul. What you then did was work through any problems pretty much on your own; most people just sucked it up and kept on plugging along. A few had severe problems and got local or VA help, most did not and worked things out for themselves. Most were content with that.
After Viet Nam, as a result of many things (not least getting a diagnosis insurers would pay for), interest in PTSD rose and for the first time, counseling was offered. A really relatively small percentage of Viet Nam veterans were involved in that -- most just drove on as had their equally numerous Korean War predecessors and their far, far more numerous WW II forebears...
Secondly, I agree that society has lost many stressors and that treatment for mental aberrations is more acceptable and those two factors conspire to raise the acceptability and thus the number of 'sufferers.' Times change and so do mores an attitudes.
Not always for the better... :wry:
As an aside, I agree with your idea on unit rotations decompressing on the way home. :cool:
And I really agree with your 'prevention is better than treatment...'