"RESPECT-MIL tears down the walls concerning PTSD

R-E-S-P-E-C-T spells reduced stigma, more choices
Jul 21, 2008
BY Pfc. Michael Syner, Kimberly Gearhart

HEIDELBERG, Germany (Army News Service, July 21, 2008) – According to Army medical officials, the new Re-Engineering Systems for the Primary Care and Treatment of Depression and PTSD in the Military program is designed to help providers recognize warning signs and treat those disorders early while eliminating Soldiers' fears about the stigma of psychological illnesses and their treatment.

Program officials say RESPECT-MIL takes advantage of any visit Soldiers make to their assigned primary care physicians for any reason, turning those visits into opportunities to detect symptoms that could indicate that the Soldier is struggling with PTSD.

"The Army is doing a lot more as far as trying to reach out and find Soldiers who are having issues but are reluctant to seek mental health care due to the historical mental health stigma within the military," said Dr. (Maj.) David Johnson, a Schweinfurt Health Clinic psychiatrist.

According to Col. Angela Pereira, director of Soldier and Family Support Services for the Europe Regional Medical Command, Soldiers usually visit their primary health providers 3.4 times a year on average, and each of those visits is a chance for doctors to detect any behavioral health problems and get Soldiers the treatment they need.

"RESPECT-MIL tears down the walls concerning PTSD by making questions concerning PTSD and depression a routine activity any time someone visits their local primary health provider, which offers Soldiers and their Family members extra chances to spot a problem early on," said Lt. Col. Raymond L. Gundry, ERMC's deputy commander of outlying clinics.

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