Standoffs Involved Vets Who May Have PTSD (ya think?)

[annm4peace]

Standoffs Involved Vets Who May Have PTSD

http://kstp.com/news/stories/s1259809.shtml

wo standoffs in the metro in three days both involved Iraq war veterans who friends say suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

On Nov. 11, officers went to the Apple Valley home of Robert James Dunnum, 44.

According to a criminal complaint, he had been drinking and told his wife "you want a war, I'll start a war."

He's charged with making terroristic threats and domestic assault.

He allegedly had seven guns and a grenade.

On Nov. 13, in Edina, officers sent neighbors to their basements while a man holed up in his home with a gun. The man was also an Iraq war vet.

Dr. Ernest Boswell is a psychologist who consults with the Minnesota National Guard.

He hasn't treated either man to know if they do indeed suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. But he says, no matter what the cause the men, like many returning soldiers, need help whether they want it or not.

Boswell says the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder was about 22 percent for returning Vietnam veterans. For Iraq and Afghanistan vets it's much less, about 10 percent.

But Boswell says it is a problem that will never go away on its own.

"You cannot continue to deploy people cycle after cycle after cycle without them having some kind of long term legacy," said Boswell.

Boswell says many still see therapy as a weakness and it may be up to those around them to take the first step toward mental health.

He said, "Far too often family members in retrospect say I observed a lot of things but I didn't want to say anything. We need to stop this conspiracy of silence and speak out."

Boswell says every psychological issue is made worse with alcohol.

There are many programs devoted to returning troops and families.






** there are many programs.. but they never, ever, direct them to Veterans for Peace, or Iraq Veterans Against the War. The VFP and IVAW should be an options. They might just be what the veterans need. And an active duty military person might just need "Courage to Resist."

SHAME on the Media for their continued censoring of those who speak out. Especially of the Veterans, Military members, and Military Families have the courage to speak out.

http://www.vfpchapter27.org/

http://www.ivaw.org/

http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/5/50/



Call Obama, Call your Senators, and call your Rep. and say NO to the Escalation and bring the troops home now! And Fund more mental health for our veterans and their families.



And Call Gov Pawlenty to call our MN National Guard home! As of Dec 2008, Bush and Maliki decided the crisis was over.


White House: 202-456-1414

Sen Klobuchar Phone: [phone]

Sen Franken Phone: [phone]

Gov Pawlenty Phone [phone]