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Thursday, July 5, 2012

63,000 soldiers found to have Combat PTSD during screening

This is what Point Man Ministries has been trying to warn people about. As bad as the numbers are today they are only going to get higher later on. Dana Morgan, President of Point Man International Ministries holds conference calls every Monday night on Skype with Out Post Leaders across the country. Combat PTSD is our number on topic. We handle the spiritual needs of combat veterans and their families with Home Fronts lead by the spouse of a veteran.

This is not "rocket science" but it is experience knowing what works because Point Man has been around since 1984, almost as long as I've been doing the same type of work.

You probably haven't heard of Point Man because we're all volunteers and none of us have enough money to get the publicity other groups have but on top of that, none of us have the time to go out and scream "look at me" and dig into your pockets.

I am so lousy at it that when I help a veteran, I never mention the fact that I am supported by donations and can't pay my own bills to cover the costs of doing what I do. While I'm no good at finding funding, I've been doing this for 30 years and can tell you the same thing I tell the veterans I work with. None of this is hopeless. None of them are helpless. While contrary to a recent articles saying some are "cured" by the VA in 5 years" along with a footlocker filled with other nonsense claims, there is a lot of healing going on the media doesn't even know about.

Read this article and take in the numbers were heading for then watch the two videos at the bottom of this to hear from an Iraq veteran and then you'll know how much is really possible.

Soldiers seeking routine medical care now get PTSD screening as well
By SETH ROBSON
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 5, 2012

The Army is asking soldiers who go to the doctor for ailments such as back pain or colds to answer questions about depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in a bid to identify those who may need help.

About 63,000 soldiers out of 2 million screened during routine doctor appointments since 2007 have tested positive for previously unrecognized and untreated mental health problems, according to Col. Charles Engel, a Walter Reed National Military Medical Center doctor.

“The patients may be there for anything from a broken arm to an upper respiratory problem,” Engel told experts gathered at a recent meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. “Very seldom do people go to their primary care doctor just for stress or depression problems.”


Studies show that the average person with PTSD waits 12 years before being treated. As recently as 2004, only about a quarter of soldiers who were suffering from PTSD were getting specialized care, he said.


“We have a lot of people out there getting no care,” he said.
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