Combat PTSD, get to the Point Man

Combat PTSD, get to the Point Man
by Chaplain Kathie
Wounded Times Blog
August 17, 2012

There is a great article on Dr. Edward Tick talking about the need to address the spiritual aspect of PTSD. As a matter of fact, it is vital since PTSD hits the soul. Dr. Tick is great and I have a copy of his book.

Embracing the soul to heal war's pain
Albany therapist trains Army chaplains to help troops who suffer PTSD
By Paul Grondahl
Thursday, August 16, 2012

Pyschotherapist Dr. Edward Tick, who has been chosen to provide national training on PTSD therapy for the 2,000 chaplains of the Army, goes through documents pertaining to the training, in his office in Troy, N.Y. Thursday Aug. 16, 2012.
(Dan Little/Special to the Times Union)

TROY — Psychotherapist Ed Tick has presented training sessions on post-traumatic stress disorder for 2,000 of the Army's chaplains at retreats from Hawaii to Florida during the past year.

The chaplains are a forgotten casualty of war, psychologically damaged themselves while providing spiritual healing to troubled combat soldiers.

"Each chaplain is caring for an entire battalion of 1,000 soldiers. They're faced with an overwhelming number of mental health cases and they're hurting badly themselves," said Tick, of Albany, executive director of Soldier's Heart, a not-for-profit group in Troy that helps veterans address their spiritual and psychological needs when they return from combat.

Following his two-hour presentations, chaplains sought him out in quiet corridors to open up how the brutality they encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan tested their faith and mental health. Tick is the lone civilian invited to the three-day retreats known as Chaplaincy Annual Sustainment Training, or CAST.
read more here

So why isn't Point Man included in on any of this? Consider the following.

Since 1984, when Seattle Police Officer and Vietnam Veteran Bill Landreth noticed he was arresting the same people each night, he discovered most were Vietnam vets like himself that just never seemed to have quite made it home. He began to meet with them in coffee shops and on a regular basis for fellowship and prayer. Soon, Point Man Ministries was conceived and became a staple of the Seattle area. Bills untimely death soon after put the future of Point Man in jeopardy.

However, Chuck Dean, publisher of a Veterans self help newspaper, Reveille, had a vision for the ministry and developed it into a system of small groups across the USA for the purpose of mutual support and fellowship. These groups are known as Outposts. Worldwide there are hundreds of Outposts and Homefront groups serving the families of veterans.

PMIM is run by veterans from all conflicts, nationalities and backgrounds. Although, the primary focus of Point Man has always been to offer spiritual healing from PTSD, Point Man today is involved in group meetings, publishing, hospital visits, conferences, supplying speakers for churches and veteran groups, welcome home projects and community support. Just about any where there are Vets there is a Point Man presence. All services offered by Point Man are free of charge.

Combat PTSD on the Home Front has information about the need to get families involved, something else Point Man has been doing all along.

Outposts are lead by Christian Vets who care deeply about veterans and their struggles. They fully understand the difficulties associated with returning home after a long and difficult deployment as well as the non-combat experiences. Outposts are places for veterans to talk, share and listen to others who have walked in their shoes. All Vets are welcome regardless of what country they served with and gender is irrelevant as both men and women have served and sacrificed for their respective countries.

Homefront groups are lead by Christian mothers, wives and friends of both active duty military and veterans. They provide an understanding ear and caring heart that only those left behind at home can understand. They have experienced the stress of dealing with deployments and the effects of a loved one returning home from war. If you have someone you love deployed or having issues readjusting since coming home get connected with a local group or contact HQ for assistance.

You'd think members of Point Man would be invited to all of these events but the truth is, Point Man International Ministries has a great reputation but no PR at all. Honestly we operated mostly out of our own pockets so no one has money to spend or time to get reporters to pay much attention to us at all.

I had a meeting with some business people the other day and we were talking about how I don't have a clue what is needed to find financial support or even promote what I do. There are some things I just don't understand or have time to learn about. Most of us are in the same position. Our time is dedicated to healing veterans and their families.

With all the new reports coming out, you'd think the spiritual part of healing PTSD is new as well but as you can see, Point Man figured that out a long time ago! UPDATE

Faith-based Website: Churches, Non-profits Need to Proactively Respond to Military’s Suicide Epidemic

The Army reported more suicides within its ranks in July than in any month since 9/11; faith-based website, followme.org, says community organizations need to reach out to returning soldiers.

(PRWEB) August 18, 2012

Community organizations, churches, and non-profits can make a big difference in the military’s war on suicide, says faith-based website, followme.org.

That statement came today as the military last week released a startling statistic: that the number of suicides by American soldiers in the month of July was the highest it has been since 9/11.

According to the Pentagon, 38 soldiers are suspected of having killed themselves in July, Time reported last week. That amounts to a 117 percent jump from June’s count of 12 suicides and a 50 percent increase from the average number of suicides in the last 18 months, the Time report said.

The statistics have the Pentagon searching for clues, as suicides have spiked since 2005, despite the end of the Iraq War and a phasing out in Afghanistan, Time reported. If the current trajectory continues, the Washington Post reports, the Army will lose 200 active-duty soldiers this year.
read more here