Military intelligence lacking when troops are blamed for PTSD

Military intelligence lacking when troops are blamed for PTSD
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 4, 2014

MP Cheryl Gallant under fire for PTSD comment. What did she say? "The stigma that has to be overcome is a stigma within themselves," Gallant said on January 30.

If she avoids seeing the obvious, that is her problem. The obvious point is that after a decade of attempts to get the stigma out of the way with billions spent by nations, 40 years of research on PTSD, it isn't the fault of soldiers they still don't understand it. The fault belongs to the leaders of the nations sending men and women to fight their battles but refuse to return the favor by fighting for them.

This is not just the twisted logic of Canadian officials. Here in the US we have the same ignorance.

On a Veterans Day broadcast program, televangelist Kenneth Copeland and controversial historian David Barton told listeners that soldiers should never experience guilt or post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from military service.

General Ray Odierno blamed soldiers and their families.

Some of it is just personal make-up. Intestinal fortitude. Mental toughness that ensures that people are able to deal with stressful situations.

But it also has to do with where you come from. I came from a loving family, one who gave lots of positive reinforcement, who built up psychologically who I was, who I am, what I might want to do. It built confidence in myself, and I believe that enables you to better deal with stress. It enables you to cope more easily than maybe some other people.

Major General Dana Pittard blamed soldiers for suicide

“I have now come to the conclusion that suicide is an absolutely selfish act,” he wrote on his official blog recently. “I am personally fed up with soldiers who are choosing to take their own lives so that others can clean up their mess. Be an adult, act like an adult, and deal with your real-life problems like the rest of us.”

All of this has been so bad that a group of soldiers decided to do a video about the military feeding the stigma of PTSD.

If they understood what they needed to know, there there would be no stigma left. Had the military done their jobs there would be no reason for any of them to not get the help they need.