Fort Carson on Defensive after soldiers report PTSD stigma

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4900521

Fort Carson- Facing national scrutiny over the support given to troops returning from Iraq, officials here are defending their treatment of soldiers who seek or may need mental help.

Officials at the mountain post say they screen every soldier who returns from the war, have a walk-in clinic for people who need immediate mental health care, and have an adequate number of mental health professionals on staff.

Several soldiers recently told National Public Radio , however, that they were denied help,ostracized because they could not cope and ultimately kicked out of the Army for misconduct or a " personality disorder" often losing some of their benefits- after they were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.


Here is the Truth from the Monkeyman. The Military is under orders to discharge troops on a misconduct discharge so they can cut cost. They used this same tactic with us when we returned from Vietnam. One out of Four troops suffer from PTSD or other mental problems. Bush and the Boys at DOD to not want the American people to see the real cost of these men and womens broken minds. I say this to Bush you broke them now pay to fix them.Stop cutting the cost of your lies on the backs of Veterans.

AGAIN

Afterall, they're getting all that good bible-study stuff there...

:evilgrin:

Yes, I know it's not funny, Monkeyman. I'm just so sick of hypocrisy!

The screwing of active duty and their families in these secret, dirty ways is a huge disgrace. It really needs some national spotlight. Maybe some candidate will stand up and list these sins in 2007.

Again, thanks. You never stop!

Edit: RECOMMENDED

I do it for the Troops and my missing Brother J Randy Barnes may he rest in peace I will carry on this fight for you

I heard the report on NPR when it was originally on (and it was posted here as well). The military says they are giving mental health support and gets the credit for doing it, but to ask for the support gets you ostracized, accused of "not being a man," your career destroyed, which makes your mental state even worse, so no one will ask for mental health support.

Someone could write a novel about it and make a movie based on it.

DOD as the thief

worse. So some of these guys who are on the edge who might recover with some support and mental health care will end up with full blown PTSD instead. Courtesy of the stupidity of the US Government.

I have severe PTSD myself from another cause, and anything bad that happens make the symptoms and the illness worse.

In effect, what they're doing is creating MORE triggers for PTSD once these guys get home so they get a really severe case (and end up with broken lives, unable to work, substance abuse problems, relationship problems, anger problems...)

But I'm sure the government will never take responsibility for it. It's gulf war syndrom all over again.

Them: Yeah, but he was sick already...!

Or the local spin on PTSD in my area: PTSD isn't real. It's just people trying to get out of working and live off welfare.

It makes me want to ship those loathesome specimens to Iraq to get a dose of their own PTSD - then they can tell me how it isn't real.

they and their families get from DoD, I firmly believe that the fortunes of those who vote for sending our people into harm's way need to be confiscated to help pay for the care that the returning military members need.

I had thought that I might be able to stop, no longer have to deal with those who come back broken in mind and spirit. But they aren't getting the help they need through the military--so there is no way I can stop.

I hate war, and I hate the people who send our loved ones into harm's way for lies, not giving a DAMN about what happens to them, and their families, when they come back.

May each and every person who helped bring this war about, and all those who support them, even knowing the lies, receive exactly what they deserve.

In November 1971 Ft McClellan Alabama there was a mental health unit. A lot of folks were ordered to go for various reasons. I had a close friend die suddenly while I was there so I was crying sometimes. There was no help there and as it was a WAC training facility some creeps had turned it into recruiting station for a prostitution ring. Do what we say or we will end your career and ruin your life type of thing. Luckily I could run, fast. Someone who worked at the base said it was getting the gals ready for their time in Vietnam. Also anytime you got sent to the infirmary you got a pelvic exam, even if you just came in with an earache, a knee abrasion, or a bad case of athletes foot... bastards.

Don't know if it was the same way everywhere I was only there for 8 weeks there was a race riot in before the first of the new year followed by a clean up operation by the MPs, shooting "stray dogs" Anyone who was in basic got a get out of the Army free one time offer. All 11 women from Minnesota in my unit and 10 of 11 women from Wisconsin took them up on it.

I did my best to talk anyone who asked out of joining. Even those who did knowing what could happen because and thought they had a good deal in some sort of training or job eventually got burned.

Barricaded Army reservist shot dead by police http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/12/27/reservist.shot.ap/

(he didn't want to go back, suicide by cop)

DU LBN thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2665674

as does child abuse, bullying, torture,pedophilia, incest and rape. All these are HUMAN caused sources of trauma and I wish that all people could see,what they are doing and take control of themselves and decide there is no more time for abuse, war, torture, rape or bullying/domination. and STOP IT.. NOW..
I wish there was a way to stop humans who cause human caused trauma.
Bush has caused enough PSTD in Americans for a privileged little frat monster.He must be stopped and fight his own damn wars by himself.
The corporations have used up enough of human hearts and minds. They must be stopped.
Leaders are the problem, because leaders are whom start wars and push and make the citizens desperate and financially destitute enough to go to war for the"leader" and be the hired guns to work the leader and his corporate thugs money making schemes.

Why do republicons hate our veterans?

Cons see our soldiers as a way invade foriegn lands for Nation Building, and to gain Massive Profits for republicon oil & munitions companies.

Then when the Veterans need help, the republicons shit on them.

earlier posts on this subject:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6576505

I was really taken aback by the update on one of the featured soldiers, who essentially mocked those in treatment for PTSD at one point:

"Referring to soldiers with PTSD, recently retired sergeant Nathan Towsley told NPR that "I don't like people who are weak-minded." He said he'd never be caught going to a therapist. Since that interview, he's acknowledged that he's depressed and has trouble controlling his anger. He has just started therapy."