US Army starts stress program but lacks resources

[Barrett808]

Source: Reuters

US Army starts stress program but lacks resources
By Kristin Roberts

WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army will start training all soldiers on Wednesday to recognize signs of post-traumatic stress and seek help when needed, but it still lacks the mental health resources to treat those troops.

About 1.5 million U.S. service members have been sent to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. Repeated and extended deployments to those war zones have driven up the need for mental health services.

But the military's mental health system is too short of funds and staff to help service members, according to the Pentagon and the American Psychological Association, which found more than 30 percent of all soldiers met the criteria for a mental disorder.

Starting on Wednesday, the Army plans to train every service member, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan, within 90 days to gauge symptoms in themselves and those around them.

While the program -- a one-hour briefing to be delivered in small groups -- is expected to boost the number of soldiers reporting symptoms of stress, the Army has too few mental health professionals to treat them.

Read more: http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N17244731.htm

[aquart]

1. Why? They had to cut a check to Halliburton?

[BOSSHOG]

2. "too short of funds and staff to help service members"

More conservative values and priorities.

Support the troops my big fat liberal ass.

[sutz12]

3. "Who could have imagined that combat would be so stressful?"

:sarcasm:

[benld74]

4. This is typical government since Bush took over

we are going to do this, by this date-but with our current resources, WHICH CANNOT BE DONE!!!!

[sutz12]

5. Just like NCLB...

pass the legislation, stage the hoopla signing event in the rose garden, then don't fund it.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. On the off chance...

That someone from the gubmint should see this, I have the perfect suggestion on how to make this work:

Outsource the administration of out-patient PTSD cases to social services organizations with the experience to help, manage and advocate for these veterans. One such organization that comes readily to mind, as they already have the experience and the framework to make this work, is Easter Seals. I am sure there are others.