Mental Injuries: Worse Than Some Thought, But Not Those Who Served

A new study released yesterday concluded that mental injuries suffered by those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are much worse than estimated, because those injuries don't manifest themselves, in many cases, for months down the road. It's somewhat entertaining to watch the media fall all over themselves to express "shock" at this story, when all they had to do was talk to those of us who served, who have known this for a while.

It's truly heartbreaking when you do actually listen to the troops. In the Washington Post coverage, they interview reservist Timothy Bredberg:

"Bredberg's family, which he describes as conservative and patriotic, disowned him after he returned. "Timmy, we don't know you anymore," his sisters told him, he recalled. "People talk about the sacrifices . . ." he said. "People don't realize it's more of an emotional and mental thing that we give up for going over there. I have lost family members because of it. I've lost best friends."

Thing here is, Bredberg returned in 2004. Three years ago!

Far too many troops return and are not properly screened when they return, and are not being brought into the system for constant evaluation and care. As I wrote earlier last week, even for those troops who do seek help, there are ridiculously high hurdles they must meet, to qualify for care and disability for their mental injury. Failure to bring these guys into the system, properly screen and monitor them, and give them full disability when it's due leads to a host of problems, whether it's homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, or fits of violence against family.

Increased funding for the VA and related veteran care programs would go a long way towards identifying and caring for those veterans with mental injuries, and ensuring that they get the disability payments they are due. And yet, the Administration is still fighting over every dime Congress proposes on spending for veterans.

Just because mental injuries cannot be seen, it doesn't mean they are less severe. And yet, as a nation, we treat mental injuries like that, when it comes to our veterans. Imagine if we had veterans in the streets with untreated third-degree burns, blown off limbs that weren't sewed up, and gaping open wounds with organs hanging out. This country would never forgive this Administration and those in Congress who voted against increased VA funding. And yet, we have a very similar situation, when it comes to untreated mental injuries, and a system that allows our veterans to deal with it on their own.

I ask, where is the outrage?

Follow Jon Soltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jonsoltz

Comments

[Pdubya]

Outraged!

I support HR Bill 3835 The American Freedom Agenda Act and others that help support our veterans.

blue dog dem for ron paul
former army captain

thanks jon, again.

[sdguppy]

For some, I think, the war and its effects cannot be real to them, it is a video game, just like it is to the President. For others of us - so many letters written, phone calls to legislator's offices and emails sent to friends and family who just shrug because they are more concerned with coping with filling their gas tanks - I think Outrage Fatigue might be the right word.

Bush states that history will be his judge - and it will - an objective, reality based judge that will not be kind to Bush, Most of our elected leaders and administrators, the media and millions of Americans who stood silently by.

[CaseyBabes]

Where is the outrage? Right here......­..as once again the author circumvents the reason for the delay in advancing veterans' programs. The democrat controlled congress fashions their programs in such a way as to place their party in a win-win situation. They shift veteran department responsibilities around, over load the budgets, then sit back and wait for the veto. As the article amply demonstrates by omission, the democrat political agenda is the impediment to veterans care.

[ceu]

Jon,
Where also is the outrage about troops being discharged due to "personality disorders" (I think that's the term I heard) so the gov't won't have to pay for the mental injuries they suffered? I heard a piece about it on ABC News (I think) maybe a month or two back but haven't heard much else after that. What's going on & what can we non-vets do to ameliorate this horrible situation that affects so many in our military? (aside from the calls & letters to our congresspeople)