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

2014-04-03T07:32:10-04:00

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?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2014 7:49 AM

2014-04-03T07:49:08-04:00

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.

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.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Apr 3 at 2014 8:09 AM

2014-04-03T08:09:11-04:00

Generally I believe the increased attention on PTS has caused employers to be reluctant to hire our veterans. That's why the unemployment rate for post 9/11 veterans is always about 2% points higher than the general population. It's troubling.

I work for a nonprofit, Project Sanctuary (http://www.projectsanctuary.us), that is committed to finding a job for each and every veteran who comes through our retreats. We have a 100% success rate to get a job for those veterans who want a job.

Home - Project Sanctuary

At Project Sanctuary, we believe the whole family serves, and the best way to “support the troops” is by supporting the family. We provide therapeutic retreats, enabling military families to reconnect...

Response by SFC Patrick D. made Apr 27 at 2014 4:55 PM

2014-04-27T16:55:08-04:00

Another issue to consider:
http://www.ibtimes.com/medicating-our-troops-oblivion-prescription-drugs-said-be-endangering-us-soldiers-1572217

Response by SFC Gary Fox made Jun 28 at 2014 10:37 AM

2014-06-28T10:37:41-04:00

I actually think the media attention has hurt Veterans not only who suffer from PTSD, but all Veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. I've personally run into people who believe all Veterans who served in either country have PTSD.

How often has anyone seen the news media actually describe what PTSD is and who can suffer from it? I haven't. What we do see though from the news media is a lot of misinformation about PTSD. The recent mass shooting at Fort Hood - the news media was quick to bring to news audiences the Soldier had PTSD, but did he? He served in Iraq for four months, but never experienced combat. One news report said he was being treated for PTSD. It turned out he was also being treated for an anxiety disorder and depression.

The VA has done extensive studies on PTSD and have concluded PTSD alone does not make a person become violent. The study shows those with PTSD who did become violent were also being treated for another mental disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury. The truth is when something triggers PTSD it will make the person depressed and withdrawn. They are more likely to harm themselves rather than someone else.

Hollywood doesn't help matters at all. In movies and TV shows when depicting military personnel or Veteran's with PTSD, they portray them as often becoming violent.

The problem with PTSD is nobody is doing much to educate employers and the public what PTSD really is and how people come to suffer from it. A Rand study shows 8% of Americans suffer from PTSD. That's more than 25 million people. Now take into consideration that slightly more than 3 million have served in either Iraq or Afghanistan. The vast majority of people who suffer from PTSD never served in our military.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2014 10:48 AM

2014-07-03T10:48:14-04:00

The misinformation is not just limited to the media.

Senator Dianne Feinstein's opinion is that of this:

"The problem with expanding this is that, you know, with the advent of PTSD, which I think is a new phenomenon as a product of the Iraq War, it’s not clear how the seller or transferrer of a firearm covered by this bill would verify that an individual was a member, or a veteran, and that there was no impairment of that individual with respect to having a weapon like this."

If a senator feels that PTSD is an "advent" of the Iraq / Afghanistan wars, what does that say about our elected leaders? PTSD has been well documented and has been retroactively diagnosed to tens if not hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans.

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Granted, that is only one elected leader, and should not be used as evidence that all our elected leaders are this ignorant of PTSD and its far-reaching implications (think Shell-shock - WWI)

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Then there are leaders such as this man, Marine General Jim Mattis:

The appropriately nicknamed Mad Dog took aim at a dangerous moving target: Post-Traumatic Stress. "You've been told that you're broken," said Mattis, "That you're damaged goods" and should be labeled victims of two unjust and poorly executed wars. The truth, instead, is that we are the only folks with the skills, determination, and values to ensure American dominance in this chaotic world.

To a now-silent theater full of combat vets he explained how the nation has a "disease orientation" toward combat stress. Mad Dog's death blow was swift: "In America, victimhood is exalted."

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We cannot return to our past and right the wrongs. We cannot go back to the war and stop it all from happening. We must learn to LIVE with what we have done. For me, that means going into my mind and reviewing the situations that caused me pain - reanalyzing it and then injecting different emotions into that situation. Our immediate reactions are difficult to control when we are fighting for our lives, etc. Thus, we must take the time and effort to go into those memories and begin to sort out, organize and process the massive influx of emotions that sprang from the incidents that caused lasting turmoil.

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As for my personal opinion, the coverage the media portrays is dark and brooding primarily because they either spread misinformation OR they do not give enough information (selective - gatekeeping what is told and what is not for perceived entertainment value). We, as veterans and all who suffer from PTSD (because this disorder effects many outside of the military circle) deserve better. Will we get it? No.

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Maj. Kile,

I am very disconcerted to hear that some people cannot even get through an interview because their interviewers bias against them. This sounds like veteran discrimination to me.

Response by SFC Gary Fox made Jul 4 at 2014 1:06 PM

2014-07-04T13:06:43-04:00

If I were a rich man and could start my own business, I would only hire Veterans. In any employment listing I would put under requirements, "Must be a military Veteran." I bet I would have the government on my ass saying I was discriminating against those who never served.

Response by Cpl Dr Ronnie Manns made Jul 16 at 2014 4:40 AM

2014-07-16T04:40:19-04:00

Yes, but it is only an excuse from employers who feel more intimidated than proud to have a veteran within their ranks. We are not seen as someone who may be able to help save their business but as someone who may be able to take over their business. Job security is a scary thing.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 4:02 PM

2015-01-05T16:02:36-05:00

I apologize for the late response to this posting. Yes I do think it has caused a barrier in some hiring aspects of the civilian job market. The information that some employers hear when you admit to deployment is that you might be the next person to show aggression in the work place and they do not want to take the chance. Can I fault the misconception that has been shown? Easily but in the same way that I can understand the need to classify what they do not understand and may fear.

Response by SFC Aaron Finley made Jan 5 at 2015 9:11 PM

2015-01-05T21:11:22-05:00

I think it has done a bit of both. Usually employers that are military friendly and understand ex-military members may not have any issues hiring Vets with any type of disability. Employers that don't understand and whom have to give reasonable accommodations might have a problem. Just keep one thing in mind an employer are not suppose to ask you what type of disabilities you have prior to hiring the Vet.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 15 at 2019 4:02 AM

2019-08-15T04:02:23-04:00

I think it has helped the public at large to better understand the challenges military members face!

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 15 at 2019 9:42 AM

2019-08-15T09:42:19-04:00

The increased level of awareness, I think has helped.