Military Doctors Withholding Treatment from Soldiers with Mental Health Problems

[babylonsister]

Military Doctors Withholding Treatment from Soldiers with Mental Health Problems

By Maggie Mahar, Health Beat. Posted February 27, 2008.


The military is denying crucial care to soldiers, making them vulnerable on the battlefield.

Since 9/11, one Army division has spent more time in Iraq than any other group of soldiers: the 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, New York.

Over the past 6 years and and six months, their 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) has been the most deployed brigade in the army. As of this month, the brigade had completed its fourth tour of Iraq. All in all, the soldiers of BCT have spent 40 months in Iraq.

At what cost? According to a February 13 report issued by the Veterans for America's (VFA) Wounded Warrior Outreach Program, which is dedicated to strengthening the military mental health system, it is not just their bodies that have been maimed and, in some cases, destroyed. Many of these soldiers are suffering from severe mental health problems that have led to suicide attempts as well as spousal abuse and alcoholism.

Meanwhile, the soldiers of the 2nd BCT have been given too little time off in between deployments: In one case they had only six months to mentally "re-set"; following an eight-month tour in Afghanistan -- before beginning a 12-month tour in Iraq.

more...

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/77867/?page=entire

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. **co truly does suck in every way imaginable

[gateley]

2. On Biden's "Sacred Obligation" video

he speaks to this. He said that the VA physicians told him that they have been TOLD who and who not to treat.

And as always, it all comes down to money.

I don't have a word for the loathing and hatred I feel in my soul toward this administration.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

3. My husband is a psychiatrist and is at the Dallas VA one day a week

I will ask him what he knows about this.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Mental health is all in the mind, doncha know

Look at any health insurance policy: you will find that mental health care is either not provided, or is limited to a half dozen visits to a shrink for "emergency suicide prevention" or somesuch nonsense.

Why should the military take a different attitude? If there is nothing obviously physically wrong, then you are healthy and fit, end of discussion.

[DeadManInc]

5. Got to rid them of their terrists. Gotta stop

the terrist activity. They all want democracy.

[mnhtnbb]

6. My husband is a psychiatrist and has been getting headhunter calls

to go work in Fayetteville, NC (home of Ft. Bragg and Pope AFB). Apparently, the military is swamped
with soldiers requiring mental health care and is desperate for psychiatrists. Hubby first treated
soldiers with PTSD when he was with USAF during Vietnam, and later worked many years with the VA system.

[Karenina]

7. Societal disaster bubble...

Don't know what else to call it. Plan A is to get most of these guys KILLED and Plan B if they do return alive, fuck with their healthcare until they die. Never mind how many family members, neighbors or random individuals get taken out in the process.