This morning Give an Hour held a news conference in conjunction with the American Psychiatric Association and the Lilly Foundation, a foundation that gives grants to philanthropic organizations . The presentation highlighted the work of Give an Hour, an organization which seeks to provide mental health services to military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and military families. (more…)

Speaking at the Restoration and Resilience Center at Ft. Bliss, Texas the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that after changing the questionnaire for security clearance, seeking help for post combat mental disorders will not, in and of itself be a disqualification for receiving or renewing the security clearance. (0:51)

Speaking at the Restoration and Resilience Center at Ft. Bliss, Texas the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that part of the effort to remove the stigma of PTSD is to reassuring military members that seeking help does not make them weak. (0:22)

 

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Speaking form the Restoration and Reliance Center at Ft. Bliss Texas, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced changes to the questionnaire that military personnel are required to fill out in order to obtain their security clearance. Question No. 21 on the form asks about the applicant’s mental health history and whether the applicant has sought mental health treatment.

Gates spoke about a review by the Army inspector general which found that soldiers were not seeking help with mental health issues because military member feared that by doing so they put their security clearance and therefore their jobs at risk. Gates said that after he learned about this, the Department of Defense undertook to change the wording of the question to exclude counseling for combat related stress disorders.

After an eight month process to change the government wide form, the questionnaire now makes clear that seeking treatment for mental health problems related to combat stress is not a disqualification for receiving or renewing security clearance.

“There are two aspects it seems to me when dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” said Gates. “First developing the care and the treatment of these soldiers…the second and in some ways perhaps equally challenging is to remove the stigma that is associated with PTSD to encourage soldiers, sailors, Marines and airman who encounter these problems to seek help.”

Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. Adam Robinson says reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental health services is a critical component in the efforts to support psychological health. We have expanded our training efforts, he says, and they are available at each training point, and emphasize the importance of not delaying mental health services. (:31)

 

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Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker says they are working to implement care initiatives to address combat stress. Since the beginning of the global war on terror, he says, they are working to meet the health care needs of returning soldiers. We are well aware of the fact that the length of deployments can affect mental health, and our experience in previous conflicts, notably Vietnam, suggests that delays in seeking mental health treatment may exacerbate physiological symptoms. (:58)

 

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At the House Armed Services Committee Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing “Mental Health Overview,” Assistant Defense Secretary for Health Affairs Ward Casscells said that hopefully the program they have developed will start at the beginning of the soldier’s career, and will continue through their career, beginning with an origin screening. Not everyone needs to be a war-fighter, Casscells said. Early detection of mental problems is important. They’re not sure exactly what sort of treatment works, Casscells said, but they are making major progress. Treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society is important.
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On the steps of the Capitol Building, Speaker Pelosi discusses the benefits of the House passing mental health and addiction bill at a Wellstone Action rally. (0:30)

 

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House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer speaks in support of the House passing a long awaited mental disability act at Wellstone Action rally. (1:05)

 

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Non-profit organization Wellstone Action led a rally on the steps of our nation’s capitol building supporting the House passage of a bill ending insurance discrimination against the mentally handicapped. Speakers at the rally included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer

The speeches of Pelosi and Hoyer were preceded by Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN). Each speaker urged that the mentally ill should be treated and insured just as other sickly patients are.

The most emotionally stirring sentiments of the afternoon came from former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Carter, with a distinct soft Southern accent, addressed the crowd with a short speech voicing her satisfaction about finally seeing the bill passed by the House, after years of failed efforts.

Rep. Kennedy was particularly hopeful that the bill would be passed by the President in coming weeks. Pelosi reminded supporters that passage of this bill would help insure that soldiers returning from Iraq could have access to the mental health care they would likely need upon returning from duty.