GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: Defense, VA urged to spend more on mental health, brain injury treatments

• 63309
  

  Your article stated an alarming statistic, up to 30%, of all soldiers returning form war, who suffer neurological or mental disorders that can be directly related to their service. These individuals who have given life and limb for their country have lost their individual identity due to no fault of their own. They typically fall into destructive behaviors, such as drug or alcohol abuse. Relationships with spouse or family members typically suffer greatly or are destroyed and many lose all social functioning skills such as difficulties in keeping employment or emotional stability. For the sake of millions of American's, steps need to be aggressively taken to help these young men and women and their families. The rest of America owes them the means and resources to return to a high functioning productive life. Rather than talk about it, we need to take steps to DO something about it.

  Susan Snee Posted November 19, 2008 12:31 PM
• 50031
  

  I sure don't want these guys and gals subject to "successful State mental health". We already have too many homeless and subjecting them to nut jobs in society would only diminish the respect and medical care they deserve. Too often the group speaks in the VA system combine men and women, like it or not these treatment plans don't work. They need to separate the sexes so they are willing to speak out about their problems

  dan m ketter Posted May 5, 2008 4:26 PM
• 49690
  

  The military and VA alike need to do more for our injuried soldiers. We should have learned from our mistakes during previous wars that our soldiers see and/or do horrific things during combat and might suffer from these visions for quite some time; therefore I think all soldiers need to be monitored upon their return from Iraq and Afghanistan. It doesn't matter if these soldiers are active duty or reservists, all of them deserve the same treatment - none of them should be treated differently. They have put their lives on the line to protect their country so we need to show them our gratitude by providing whatever medical care they require to help them adjust back to "normal" lives.

  Patty Posted April 30, 2008 9:17 AM
• 49672
  

  VA needs to mirror COMMUNITY BASED policies/practices reflective of successful efforts in deinstitutionalization. VA mental health care continues to reflect an over-reliance on hospital care for mentally challenged returning vets. Discharge planning and post hospitalization community follow up are currently disjointed and disorganzied. Challenged veterans would benefit from better service coordinion and individualized service planning. Models exist for support and treatment in the least restrictive systems of care - but these continue to be elude VA treatment planning. Mental Health in VA can learn from successful long term mental health support systems and psycho-social approaches alreaday in place in most state mental health systems. Comprehensive literature review may lead VA to offer 21st Century level of community mental health care.

  Elaine Kersten Posted April 30, 2008 7:39 AM