Iraq war veteran holds hostage, wants treatment

[rhino47]

http://www.kansas.com/197/story/46646.html

ERINGTON, Kan. - A veteran of the Iraq war who held his family hostage and wore military armor during a standoff with police surrendered only after being assured he would receive help for post-traumatic stress disorder, police said.

The 33-year-old Fort Riley soldier, whose name was not released because he had not been charged, locked himself and his family inside his Herington home Sunday night. He released his family shortly after the incident began but surrendered only after talking to a Herington police officer who had befriended him, police Chief John Pritchard said.

Pritchard said Tuesday that the man would undergo psychiatric evaluation at Fort Riley before the Dickinson County attorney will decide what, if any, charges will be filed.

"Our first concern was to get help for the family and him," Pritchard said. "At the same time, we're finishing our investigation so the county attorney can determine how to proceed."

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. He needs help, not jail

and so does his family. I think for this fellow and others with PTSD it is important to include the family in the healing/treatment process.

[MadMaddie]

2. So are they going to build more prisons because they don't

want to treat our soldiers with PTSD...I am guessing this soldier was never evaluated after he left Iraq...

Folks this is only the beginning...but sadly some of these stories will end in tradgedy....

[rhino47]

3. I have a horrible feeling you are correct MadMaddie.

That this is sadly just the beginning.

[Breeze54]

4. The soldiers usually say NO to the exit question about stress,

just so they CAN go home!! Otherwise they'll be held over for two weeks
or longer for evaluation. If you're just getting back from the 'sandbox',
the last thing you want is to be held up for another two weeks.
I think that's why the new VA legislation included a follow up at six months.
They can seek help after they get back but I don't know that all will OR will get help.

There is a free service available called:

Operation Comfort.

http://www.operationcomfort.com/

Our mission is to create a nationwide network of mental health providers and agencies to donate their services, free of charge, to family members who have a loved one serving in the Middle East.

Our sole purpose is to provide emotional and psychological support to military families, regardless of ethnic background, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, economic status, or political stance.

Operation Comfort will allow therapists the opportunity to be of service to a population in great need of support. At this time, the families of soldiers are a unique and diverse community, all struggling with similar concerns, anxieties, and life stressors. Operation Comfort is an inclusive organization of psychologists, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and social workers, all of whom are donating their time and expertise to provide meaning, understanding, and comfort. Therapists and family members alike, are invited to participate in this collaborative effort to maintain community and connection in this time of uncertainty and heartache.

Phase One has been the creation of a network to assist families in uniform cope and manage their lives more effectively.

Phase Two is our commitment to continue working, free of charge, with our troops and their families throughout this process of reintegrating into their communities and homes. There is pending legislation to support our troops with homecoming parades, but the reality is that many returning soldiers will be dealing with issues stemming from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Operation Comfort will provide individual psychotherapy, marital counseling, critical debriefing and family therapy for military families.

[Monkeyman]

5. Yep we will see 100's of these cases