DOD might hire more mental health professionals

DOD might hire more mental health professionals
By Jeff Schogol
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 20, 2010

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department may hire more mental health professionals and other health care providers as part of its response to last year’s shooting at Fort Hood.

Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is accused of killing 13 people and wounding 29 others when he allegedly opened fire at the Texas base’s Soldier and Family Readiness Center in November 2009. Afterward, Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered an independent review into mental health issues as well as procedures of assessing personnel performance and facility security.

The Defense Department addressed some of the panel’s recommendations in April. It responded to the rest on Friday.


“The demand for support from caregivers in general, and from mental healthcare providers in particular, is increasing and appears likely to continue to increase due to the stress on military personnel and their families from our high operational tempo and repeated assignments in combat areas,” a follow-up review found.

Accordingly, the department may ask for health care providers in November, according to the response document. It did not say how many people might be hired.

The independent review also found that the Defense Department procedures for identifying warning signs of violent tendencies or radicalization are outdated, so the department will issue commanders and civilian supervisors interim guidance on how to identify internal threats.

Officials also will conduct three formal studies to “deepen our understanding of internal threats and refine guidance contained in the interim message,” the response said. Those findings will become part of department programs by September 2011.
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DOD might hire more mental health professionals

Maybe now you'll understand why anyone claiming to be an expert on PTSD claiming our veterans are criminals and frauds should be held accountable for what he says.
When psychiatrists attack PTSD veterans, we all suffer