Local VA Fighting a National Nightmare

[babylonsister]

http://www.kttc.com/News/index.php?ID=15061

Local VA Fighting a National Nightmare
Chris Woodard
KTTC TV

MASON CITY, IA -- Veterans returning home from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are at an increased risk of suicide because of a lack of mental health care at VA clinics.

On the same day the inspector general issues that conclusion, one clinic brings in the public.

The VA have been under fire for months and now one local clinic is trying to fly above the radar.

No one can argue that war is a life changing experience, the problem is that even for those who return home, it can be a life ending experience.

more...

[porphyrian]

1. This is how republicants "support our troops," by ignoring the dead and wounded.

It's fucking treason, nothing less.

[Monkeyman]

2. Thanks Sis

[lazer47]

3. Chicken hawks think,, the more dead,,the better their support

They can't have heroes without funerals,,Chicken hawks don't believe in wounded heroes theres to many problems they have to deal with, and they cost way to much money.

[Monkeyman]

4. You Got IT

[KharmaTrain]

5. "Gut It Up, Soldier"....

I wish this were online, but a local public radio show was discussing the PTSD Crisis...and they used that word to describe it. Just like with Agent Orange and Gulf War Disease, the DOD is trying to ignore the problem to either keep the troop levels up or the costs down or both. Many vets are afraid to report their illness as they've always been trained to be "tough" and to "gut it up"...that somehow this illness is not really a problem.

The stress levels the military has gone through during this invasion and occupation have been very under-reported. There's no concept of the damage repeated tours do on soldiers...especially those thrown back into the meat grinder of urban warefare. There's no documenting of the mental health of soldiers involved in incidents where they've witnessed a killing (especially of a buddy...one of the major triggers for PTSD) and there's no real guidelines on how the imminent redeployments affect those who have to uproot careers and families at a moments notice. All these factors are ignored and the effects are starting to pile up at VA hospitals...but many...way too many, are brooding, hiding, fighting and afraid to seek help in the fear of being seen as "weak".

If there's one thing Democrats must stand up for, it's the care of our veterans. They are sure to feel the scapegoats of the greed and dillusion of non-military chickenhawks and they're going to need lots of attention and care. Let's try to avoid another generation of homeless vets.