Veterans Still Reluctant to Seek Mental Health Assistance

Dr. Joel Vogt said "They don't want to be viewed as being weak and needing help." That sums up the problem Comprehensive Soldier Fitness caused. Once the troops were told they could become mentally tough with this "training" they figured they didn't train right and were mentally weak. Less than half seek help as veterans even after all the years, all the money and all the suicides.

Veterans Reluctant to Seek Mental Health Assistance
WBOY News
By Jim Sannes, Reporter
Posted: Feb 24, 2014

According to a January report from Veteran's Affairs, of the service members that seek assistance from the program, more than half will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

But beyond those, there are many that never even seek help for their mental health. This could be due to the mentality of many in the service.

"Veterans are trained to complete the mission and disregard their own personal feelings," said Marc Lockett, the OEF/OIF/OND Coordinator for the Clarksburg V.A. Medical Center.

While many of the strains of war are obvious to an outside observer, there are still many that lurk beneath the surface, possibly even out of the recognition of the veterans themselves.

Dr. Joel Vogt, a psychiatrist at the center, said that many of the same characteristics that are helpful in combat may cause problems at home. He said this includes over-vigilince and over-aggressiveness.
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