Veterans with PTSD too "embarrassed" to seek help from VA

Veterans with PTSD too "embarrassed" to seek help from VA
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
January 7, 2014

Resilience Training formaly called Battlemind and Comprehensive Soldier Fitness

However, most Soldiers will not seek help due to the psychological stigma associated with admitting to having a mental health problem. Incredibly, there is not a validated training approach to assist Soldiers in the transition home process. The present study provides the first empirical support that mental health training, called “Battlemind Training,” can help Soldiers navigate the challenges from transitioning from combat to home. "Battlemind Training: Transitioning Home from Combat"

That was from 2007. Seven years of the military telling the American people they were doing all they could to overcome the stigma of PTSD at the same time running programs that reenforce the shame soldiers feel simply because they did not understand what PTSD was.

We saw the results. Attempted suicides and completed ones went up and so did the stigma keeping them from seeking help.

Report: NH health care professionals need to improve veterans' care
New Hampshire Union Leader
By MARK HAYWARD
January 06. 2014

New Hampshire health care professionals have to do a better job of understanding the issues that confront veterans, especially PTSD and traumatic brain injury, according to a commission formed to study issues dealing with the two war-related injuries.

The commission reported that veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam rank embarrassment as their number-one reason for not getting needed treatment or services. The second-highest reason was a feeling that providers did not understand them, according to the final report of the Legislative Commission on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

Meanwhile, a survey found a need among physicians and psychologists to become more familiar with military culture and the unique needs of veterans, the report found.

"Stigma is synonymous with disgrace, dishonor and shame," reads some of the strongest language of the report. Stigma, the report recommends, must be attacked with education, compassion and accessible health care.

"The single best way to honor the sacrifices of our veterans and their families is to end the cycle of mental health crisis," reads the report.
read more here

The Suicide Event Report for 2012 has still not been released even though this is 2014. The last comprehensive military suicide report we have to review is from 2011. According to the DOD latest numbers 185 soldiers committed suicide in 2012. For 2013 up to November there were 139. The Army National Guards and Army Reservists suicides for 2012 were 93 National Guardsmen and 47 Army Reservists. For 2013 up to November were 89 Army National Guardsmen and 50 Army Reservists.

While the DOD has been saying the numbers have gone down, they failed to point out the other contributing factor of less serving in the Army.

Army

2011

As of March 31, 2012

557,780

2012

Total as of December 31, 2012

535,247 (-22,533)

Total as of July 31, 2013

530,382 (-4,865)

(-27,398)

The military can claim whatever they want but what he servicemen and women say about all of this is a different story. They say all of this resilience training has kept them from saying they need help. Now we know they were telling the truth and the above report supports how this training has made them feel. They believe they didn't train right and are mentally weak. Their courage and compassion were not honored and their service was not validated.