Armed Service Subcommittee PTSD Suicide Hearing but didn't listen

Over the last 7 years, Wounded Times has tracked reports and tried to tell readers what no one else seemed willing to do, tell the truth. The reason is simple, unless the DOD and the VA problems are fixed properly, history will be repeated again and again. It has all gone on far too long as politicians and reporters get to pretend it is all new. Nothing has improved because nothing was really fixed.

As the number of suicides in the military and among veterans increase every year while more and more money is spent on what has not worked, our families are wondering why we are still counting the number of flags needed to cover the graves of our veterans after they survived combat. Every time a reporter "breaks" news, no one remembers we are living with all of this on a daily basis. We cry. We cry because yesterday, last week, last month, last year and 30 years ago, little has changed for us.

We didn't just hear the news, we lived it. Here is a reminder of what we remember. We remember all the claims made by the military and politicians claiming they cared about us. We remembered all the promises made after family members traveled to Washington to tell our stories and as we had to tell family members gathered for yet another funeral why someone we loved is no longer here.

We remember and thanks to CSPAN, you can be reminded of what we live with everyday. This is from 2005. If you think anything is new, nothing is to us.

JULY 26, 2005

Military Mental Health The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel heard testimony on Department of Defense mental health services and programs. Witnessed testified about mental health among military personnel, examining the status of mental health care currently available to active duty and reserve component personnel. The first panel consisted of military officials testifying on services available. During the second panel, military personnel testified about their experiences with the availability of mental health services.

New England Journal of Medicine study cited "16% Experienced mental health problems including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."

Most of the issues around not seeking help were connected to the stigma of PTSD.

Deployments place unique stressors "Pre and Post Deployment evaluations. Yes way back in 2005." Then they talked about screenings during a servicemembers career.
Dr. William Winkenwerder Assistant Defense Secretary for Health Affairs

Michael Kussman, Deputy Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Health

Electronic health record. "Over 14,000 OEF and OIF veterans sought help for "adjustment disorders."

VA approach to teaching and treating these soldiers,,,,,,

Inform veterans and families with outreach,,,,FY 2003 nearly 47,000 Guard and Reserve Personnel

Army Lt. General Kevin Kiley
5% have reported PTSD symptoms. 17% for depression, increased to 19%.

"Suicide Prevention Program" was a "success"

Vice Admiral Donald Arthur

"They are still in combat" even though they were in the hospital or back at home and the it wasn't just about the servicemember, it was also about the families.

"We're paying attention to it."

They asked RAND Corp to do a study,,,,but as we've seen, when RAND did their study on Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, they ignored it and just pushed the program that failed.

As for reducing the stigma "I don't know of anything we could do or should do."

"We value mental toughness"