Army officer warns of mental health woes

Army officer warns of mental health woes

WASHINGTON - Mental health screening isn't consistent for U.S. troops returning from war, and if they don't say they need help they often don't get it, the Army's top medical officer said Friday.

"If an individual checks nothing, I have no mental health issues, they're not necessarily being sent to mental health counseling," said Army Surgeon General Kevin Kiley, speaking at a hearing on military medical readiness before the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

It is estimated that about 17 percent of returning warfighters have post-traumatic stress disorder or severe anxiety and depression, compared to about 6 or 7 percent of the general population, Kiley said.

Studies show some troops fear being stigmatized if they acknowledge they have problems such as nightmares, hyper vigilance or anxiety. Or, some want to spend time with their families instead of getting mental health help...cont'd

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070119/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/veterans_mental_health

I swear our over militarized bully loving culture HATES anyone to show pain.Dammit. If you got PSTD been traumatized have phobias anxieties depression whatever it's so stigmatized. Mental health is important too.

What bites my heart is the damn psychopaths sociopaths they are not mentally ill they don't FEEL enough anguish about anything, to be uncertain anxious or racked with pain.And it is these gutless psychopaths acting as"alphas"in this culture the"leaders" and "successful" types are whom that determine whom is stigmatized,and the rest of the crowd follows.

Look at the "american idol"bullshit . It is a bully fest where a bunch of pompous assholes amuse themselves in a bully circle jerk on TV tearing people down,whom are less than perfect, humiliating them for DARING to dream,I feel like kicking the shit out of those cruel "judges" and the asshat promoters of this fucking ignorant vainglorious culture of sadism .This problem with the stigma twords mental illness is just another symptom of how sadistic , inhuman and abusive to the sensitive human heart our culture is.

More and more it seems if you have been hurt by the actions of a bully or some asshole in your life and you are wounded or sensitized from it you gotta hide it and deny it and pretend it does not hurt as it eats your soul from the inside out. All this suppression to avoid the stigma from snide assholes to give the wounded shame they do not deserve.. I hate all The bullies "alphas" and sociopaths , They are who deserve shame,hate and stigma . We live in a emotionally stupid culture of"stiff upper lips" and we love to hear nasty assholes tear people apart as "entertainment".

This is so wrong on so many levels..It's so well, EVIL. Bush, elitists of any stripe, bullies and sociopaths wallowing in blood money and corporate thugs have NO right determining who can express pain when they get hurt, and society has lost it's sense of empathy when it stigmatize those who cannot help but bleed from the emotional traumas inflicted upon their hearts.

I hate this fucking culture of domination and egotrips win at any cost, got mine so fuck everyone else bullshit I HATE IT!!

Fuck this bully loving culture, If I had my way I would destroy it utterly, alot of sociopaths, pedophiles, rapists, corporate con men, mercenary thugs and bullies would be dead..or locked up forever.I would find a way to show non bully people why wanting to be like the being a snide snotty greedy, exploiting,abusive,elitist, superficial,sadist something to be very ashamed of, and it is not worthy of emulation.I would retool the culture so the bullies are the stigmatized ones not trusted with power,or privacy so they'd be unable to hurt people.

Because it is the bullies among us who CHOOSE to hurt others and exploit weaknesses and wounds and whom make it seem culturally acceptable to stigmatize the mentally suffering and sensitive and different for being what they are or because they were injured by bullies and are unable to cope with this sick sadistic hyper competitive, evil culture..

Since the military drill instructors aren't allowed to physically hit a soldier in training they employ new methods. Usually they sleep deprive people and find ways to mess with their mind. I think in the long run this is worse for soldiers than giving them a good old hit in the belly for getting out of line.