Army may end counseling notifications

A couple of factors to consider here. First in considering how numbers have increased is the fact more have PTSD and are self-medicating but the other obvious reason is the awareness. While more and more groups are speaking out on PTSD, along with all that goes with it, what else did they expect would happen? Why weren't they ready for any of this?

On one hand they have finally admitted they needed to do more in raising the awareness of what PTSD is so they get help, but the other hand was busy trying to play twiddle thumbs with the busy hand. Getting them aware is great but in the process they should have made sure the other end was equal to the challenge of taking care of more of them.

They have to wait? To have a person wanting up to stop drinking or doing drugs and then to not be able to take care of them when they are ready is not taking care of them at all.

Army may end counseling notifications

By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Army leaders are proposing to end a longtime policy that requires a commanding officer be notified when a soldier voluntarily seeks counseling in hopes of encouraging more GIs to seek aid, according to Army Secretary Pete Geren.
The potential move comes as combat deployments have been linked to increased alcohol abuse, and the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) is straining to keep pace.
The proposal being worked out between Army personnel and medical commanders is "an important part of a comprehensive effort to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health care and to encourage more soldiers to seek treatment," Geren said in a statement to USA TODAY on Friday.
Geren's efforts come as the number of soldiers seeking help for substance abuse has hit record levels. In November, USA TODAY reported that the number of soldiers asking for counseling had increased 25% in five years.
The Army, however, can't meet the growing demand. One-fourth of the 338 Army drug counseling positions are unfilled, spokeswoman Cynthia Vaughan says.
The program's clinical director, Wanda Kuehr, said soldiers have waited for help for "fairly long periods of time" at Fort Bragg, Fort Hood and other installations. She did not to elaborate. click link above for more