A Soldier's Toughest Battle: Returning Home?

There's been some debate about new federal regulations designed to make it easier for veterans to receive disability benefits and medical care for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). From my point of view, eliminating some of the legwork and paperwork previously required to establish combat-related stressors leading to PTSD will help increase veterans' access to timely care and services.

Another positive development here in New York is a new bill, just passed by the State Legislature, that calls for an interagency plan to improve care and services for veterans and their family members who are coping with mental health and substance use conditions.

These are steps in the right direction, but the need for additional coordinated care and services for our veterans is urgent and growing. An estimated 90,000 servicemembers will return to New York State from their tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, many with physical injuries, but many more with the invisible psychological and emotional wounds of war. According to a 2008 national study by the RAND Corporation, nearly 20% of returning veterans suffered from PTSD or depression, and 19% suffered a probable traumatic brain injury.

As these veterans reintegrate into civilian life, they and their families cope with a range of potentially debilitating social, emotional and health issues. Today, federal and state agencies and community-based groups are largely unprepared to provide these veterans with the full range of services they need. It would make sense for the Veterans Administration to reallocate some of its existing resources to support community-based services that are most approachable for many returning servicemembers. Of those veterans surveyed in the RAND study, half who sought care reported that they did not receive adequate services.

It's clear that we need to do more, and we still need to learn more about the unmet needs of servicemembers returning to New York. How can we link veterans to services they are eligible to receive through the VA? How do we connect them with community-based organizations that provide support for case management, residential services, employment training and direct mental health counseling? Where are there gaps in services and coordination? What role does military culture and persistent stigma around mental health issues play? What types of services and support do veterans' family members need?

Later this year, we will have New York-specific information from a new RAND study, modeled after the national research, on the mental, emotional and social service needs of returning veterans and their families.

What is clear today is that we all have a stake in ensuring that our veterans and their families get the services they need and that our troops are able to reintegrate successfully into their civilian lives. We owe them no less.

 

Comments

[rsngh1949]

04:59 AM on 07/25/2010

Americans!­Please Don't bleed Your Soldiers & Afghans. Identify real, hidden Enemy of yours & Muslim World.,who­se propaganda­,concocted­,fabricate­d,false intelligen­ce inputs to America,UK & Islamic states, mischievou­sly dragged America in Iraq & Afghanista­n War.Bush be-fooled by KGB & their allied agencies in the region.Ame­ricans taught a severe lesson, most intelligen­tly by agencies which mastermind­ed Afghan occupation By Russia in 1980.Afgha­ns smashed Russian expansioni­sts.Object­ives of Balkanisin­g Islamic states failed.No nation except one in the Region supported Russian occupation of Afghanista­n.People who maneuvered occupation of Afghanista­n by Russia, have trapped USA,UK,by projecting a Mirage.24 Hours Propaganda about Al quida, Islam on Tvs, projected Muslims as America's enemies.Ho­w successful this Electronic propaganda against Islam was that America attacked 2 Muslim countries who have nothing against America.Wh­at training,h­arm Afghan people can do to America,wh­o can not make even a Bi cycle.The enemy succeeded in trapping America with wrong war,with wrong enemies .KGB & their enemies are upbeat for ensuring following.
1. Ensuring conflict between Islam & Christiani­ty.
2. Bleeding Americans & their economy with War expenses exceeding Indian GDP. 8 lac Muslims death in Iraq..Amer­ican deaths 4800 in Iraq & 2000 dead inAfganist­an, double the death figure in 9/11 Bombing.Wh­y You Americans played in hands of notorious,­hidden Enemy,whic­h ensured this Muslim & Christian War.KGB & Their Allies upbeat. Mission accomplish­ed.'Winnin­g a" War without fighting a War" Against America & Islamic states ."

[rsngh1949]

01:56 AM on 07/25/2010

Great Deadly Game (Iraq & Afghan War) USA,UK Well Trapped To bleed ,Profusely­,
USA & UK ,so far the most mature,wit­h foresight,­vision,str­ategic analysis have been most intelligen­tly,shrewd­ly,effecti­vely trapped by certain forces into Iraq & Afghan War.Taking advantage of 9/11 tragedy the emotional USA well trapped by massive world bide electronic propaganda­, that for safety,2 Muslim nations, IRAQ & Afghanista­n which can not make even a motor cycle,shou­ld be occupied.W­as it KGB alone or few more agencies of region,whi­ch wanted America & UK to bleed, having financed Taliban for Afghan liberation from Russians, ensure Muslim & Christian Conflict.
(a) Bleed America,av­enge Taliban support in liberating Afghan from Russian Occupation­.
(b) Weaken USA,UK economical­ly by trapping them in baseless/p­ointless War
(c) Influence Afghan,Ens­ure Muslim fight among themselves & avenge Pakistan support of Taliban during Russian occupation
(d) Increase own influence in region, keep USA,UK, engaged in useless War
(e) Weaken Islam by raising boggy of terror, eliminatin­g Islamic leadership
KGB, & other spy agencies of region made USA,UK fools,who were earlier supporters of Afghanista­n,Iraq & Pakistan.K­GB & other agencies give America, well concocted,­fabricated­, manipulate­d intelligen­ce & played havoc with America & Islamic states in region.Ame­rica's war expenditur­e in Iraq & Afghanista­n is more than total GDP of India.Amer­ican economy & effort destroyed. Global economic melt down.Even Britishers­,got effectivel­y,intellig­ently so well trapped to bleed.Both religions Christiani­ty & Islam trapped in deadly War.KGB & other agencies are upbeat,suc­cessful in their design in ensuring Christian & Islamic War & "BE WINNER, WITHOUT FIGHTING A WAR

[PurpleTomato]

02:47 PM on 07/24/2010

Thank you Mr.Knickma­n for keeping this issue on the front burner.Our polititian­s always promise more help for our vets but they move as slow as a glacier.It­'s time for our actions to match our words.