Has increased media attention on Mental Health helped, or harmed our Service Members and Veterans? The past few years have been filled with calls for the Service Branches and the VA to do more in identifying and treating mental health conditions to include, but not limited to PTSD. While I think we can all agree wholeheartedly that this was needed; and that these conditions cross all demographics (to include rank), do any of you feel that this increased attention has created a barrier to employment (or any other effect) for veterans and current Service Members? The reason I ask is that some of us who work with veterans on a daily basis have begun to hear ‘rumblings’ that some employers are not willing to take the risk of hiring a combat veteran out of concern that they may have PTSD. I do not intend this as a discussion of PTSD in itself, or a criticism of those who have a mental health condition, but rather of the effect of the media attention on mental health of Service Members and Veterans and the effects (positive and negative) that this increased attention can have on the group as a whole. Any thoughts?

Posted on Apr 3, 2014

Has increased media attention on Mental Health helped, or harmed our Service Members and Veterans?

MSG Wade Huffman

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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The past few years have been filled with calls for the
Service Branches and the VA to do more in identifying and treating mental
health conditions to include, but not limited to PTSD.  While I think we can all agree wholeheartedly that this was needed; and that these conditions cross all demographics (to include
rank), do any of you feel that this increased attention has created a barrier
to employment (or any other effect) for veterans and current Service Members?  </p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">The reason I ask is that some of us who work with veterans on
a daily basis have begun to hear ‘rumblings’ that some employers are not
willing to take the risk of hiring a combat veteran out of concern that they
may have PTSD.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">I do not intend this as a discussion of PTSD in itself, or a
criticism of those who have a mental health condition, but rather of the effect
of the media attention on mental health of Service Members and Veterans and the
effects (positive and negative) that this increased attention can have on the
group as a whole.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Any thoughts?  </p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>

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LTC (Join to see)

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MSG Huffman, thanks for asking the question. I have definitely heard of some friends and colleagues having trouble getting through interviews after discussing their combat service. The ignorance of these employers is baffling.<div><br></div><div>I don't think, or at least I hope, that this isn't wide-spread. In any case, that is why we should all remember that we are all individual advocates for our small group of Service-members. Unfortunately, a selfish psychopath at FT Hood is going to get more media attention for his evil than MAJ Weiss, CPT Kleitzig, and the other RP staff will get for setting up this site.</div>

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MSG Wade Huffman

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MAJ Kile, Thank you for your response. I too am baffled by the ignorance of some of these employers, and by the public at large. Not every combat veteran has PTSD, and not every person with PTSD is a combat veteran (or even a veteran at all!). Nor is every person with PTSD unstable. Unfortunately the media will never take hold of this since it is neither glamorous or sensational...this truth just wouldn't 'sell newspapers' as they used to say.

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