Mental health groups join forces for troops

[unhappycamper]

Source: Stars & Stripes

Mental health groups join forces for troops
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, May 20, 2008

WASHINGTON — A coalition of mental health groups announced plans Monday to establish a nationwide network of psychiatrists, psychologists and other experts to provide free counseling to combat veterans and their families.

"Citizen soldiers have had extended, long deployments, and that has created a difficult situation for them and for their families," said Dr. Richard Harding, president of the American Psychiatric Foundation. "Those people need help … and we have a duty to take care of them."

The groups’ goal is to enlist about 40,000 mental health professionals — about 10 percent of the nationwide force — to donate time and services to individual veterans, their families, or veterans groups.

The resources would be in addition to services already provided by the Defense Department and Veterans Affairs agencies, especially in areas with long wait times or long travel distances for servicemembers to easily take advantage of those official medical treatment options.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54942

[TheDebbieDee]

1. This is a good thing. I hope this gets lots of publicity.

I also hope that the soldiers that are able to realize that they need help will take advantage of the help being offered.

[mdmc]

2. Mental Health Parity

NOW!

[BlueIris]

3. Good. More power to 'em. Mental health crises among returning vets

are the single biggest obstacle military families face, IMO.