One of the big reasons for military suicides cost $140 million

One of the big reasons for military suicides cost $140 million
by
Chaplain Kathie

The government paid $140 for a program that was not even tested on combat troops. What is worse is that it was tested on school children so they could feel better about themselves.

Martin Seligman, University of Pennsylvania, said "it will turn psychology on it's head" but he has my head spinning. He said it was attempting to prepare people before to "arm people" before bad things happen.

Why do I say it is one of the biggest reasons for military suicides? Because just like everything else, this makes it worse. Telling Marines that they can train their brains to be tough enough to take it is, frankly, telling them if they end up with PTSD, it is their fault.

The report goes on to say that this program was not even tested before it was put into use in the military. (Gee, how many years have I been complaining about that?) This PBS report came out and finally addressed what has been reported on this blog for the last 4 years.


Brian Welch said there is no proof it would work. It is based on school children "feeling better about themselves" by writing something positive about themselves every night.

Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk said, "It doesn't make sense. Trauma affects cognition."

Too many times I've had to talk to veterans after they were told this type of "training" would make them tough enough to not develop PTSD, then had the guilt of having PTSD added onto everything else that caused PTSD in the first place. One stands out. A young Marine and his buddy were at the Orlando VA sitting outside in the smoking area. I had on my Chaplain jacket, so they felt comfortable talking to me. The Marine started to cry while we were talking and then apologized for it. He told me I didn't understand because he was a Marine and he wasn't supposed to cry. He was trained to be tough enough. Suddenly I knew where he was basing this from. I looked him in the eyes and said one word, "Battlemind" and he had a shocked expression. "How did you know?" I told him what I knew about the program and then attempted to undo the damage this kind of "training" did to him. Naturally with just about an hour or so, it was just the beginning of what he would need for years to come from mental health professionals as they try to treat him. It was also one of the reasons he was reluctant to seek help in the first place. To him is was as if he had to admit that he was too weak to take it.

When you think of the fact these men and women risk their lives everyday with that kind of emotional pain, it should astound everyone. Yet there they are, ready to die for the sake of someone else, risking their lives and doing their jobs when PTSD is attacking them in their sleep and invading their days with flashbacks.

This is not just a waste of $140 million dollars, it is deadly.

Army Program Designed to Alleviate PTSD for Troops Returning From Combat

Uploaded by PBSNewsHour on Dec 14, 2011
In 2009, the Army launched a program designed to help the country's 1.4 million people in uniform cope after tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. Betty Ann Bowser reports on the goals of the $140 million Comprehensive Soldier Fitness initiative, and the controversy it has elicited.