Growing Public Health Crisis of Domestic Violence and Suicides by Returning Veterans

Growing Public Health Crisis of Domestic Violence and Suicides by Returning
Veterans

Solutions Explored at Forum at Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

BOSTON, July 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaking before an overflow
audience of military personnel, healthcare professionals and the general
public, three experts described what has become a growing public health crisis
and offered solutions at a forum -- "Returning War Veterans: Meeting Health
Needs of Veterans, Families and Communities" -- held recently at the
Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.

"We are greatly concerned in this state about the 'invisible wounds of war' --
the mental health of our returning Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, the stress,
depression and post traumatic stress disorder -- which have raised the specter
of increasing levels of domestic violence and suicide. We need to begin
focusing on their recuperation as well as building awareness and support
programs with their families about what to expect when the veterans return,"
said Senator Richard T. Moore, State Senator and Chairman of the MA Health
Care Financing Committee.

National Guard and reservists seem to suffer more severe mental health
consequences than those in the active duty military, and all suffer serious
consequences from conflict, said Dr. Jaine Darwin, a Clinical Instructor in
Psychology at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of SOFAR (Strategic
Outreach to Families of All Reservists). SOFAR provides free psychological
support, including prevention services to extended families of reserves and
guards, from deployment through reunion and reintegration into society.

"When a soldier deploys, the whole family serves; when a soldier returns home,
the whole family is impacted," stated Darwin, "Also the families of National
Guard and Reservists are isolated in their communities during the soldier's
deployment, and the soldier is often isolated upon return and back at a
civilian job within a week of being home."

Darwin offered a shocking list of statistics including:

-- Suicide rates are skyrocketing. One thousand veterans attempt suicide each
month

-- Child abuse and/or maltreatment rises by 42 percent in families where the
other parent is deployed

-- Problems in relationships are four times higher after a return from a
deployment; 20 percent of returned married troops are planning a divorce

To compound adjustments when a veteran returns to society, the soldier now has
two families, the family of comrades with whom he/she has bonded, because each
depends on the other for safety and support, and the family to whom the
soldier returns at home.

In addition, trust and lack of trust can influence a soldier's behavior
following battle and his/her return home, said Dr. Jonathan Shay, recently
retired staff psychiatrist with the Veterans Administration in Boston. "While
the enemy is important in causing reactions with a soldier, it is the social
qualities of connection by people fighting side by side that affect the future
mental health life of the combat soldier."

Solutions to explore? Three things that can reduce the trauma of war:
keeping the members of units together; providing them good leadership; and
putting them through intense and realistic training, according to Shay.
"Soldiers must train together, fight together and be brought home together.
We must get out of the individual replacement system. It is essential that
soldiers fight alongside people they know and not strangers," he said.

How can we help the 28,000 soldiers who have concluded their military service
and returned to Massachusetts? There is no road map, no experience and no
established norms. According to Darwin, a soldier may return home, but the
soldier's nervous system is still on high alert. As one family member said,
"You get a soldier home first, your husband may not come back for months."
"Trauma heals in connection. By providing opportunities for families to come
together and share concerns, they feel less isolated and are relieved that
others share their fears and concerns including the stressful adjustment to
the stranger who came home," Darwin said.

In April 2008, the Massachusetts legislature established a 19-member
Commission to examine three initiatives:

-- the establishment of a mandatory mental health treatment program for
national guard members

-- a state military family leave policy for primary caregivers of returning
service members

-- a statewide education training program to assist law enforcement and other
first responders in recognizing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Moore is also seeking federal help to assist Massachusetts veterans and
families. He said that recent discussions at the state and federal level have
concerned development of halfway houses for returning veterans with mental
health issues and traumatic brain injuries, rather than nursing homes where
they are now sent. A proposal to construct apartments where veterans can live
for 18-24 months and receive professional help is being considered. One model
is already operating in Virginia, said Moore.

The forum was presented by the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
and The Erich Lindemann Community Mental Health Education Center Initiative.

SOURCE Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Elinor Stout of Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology,
+1-978-369-3588, Estout2000@hotmail.com