Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.
We need to do more for the vets who come home. We need more mental health caregivers. We need more help. Or else more of the same will keep appearing on the news with depressing regularity.
4 comments:
Actually I'm rather surprised that it doesn't happen more than it does. It's probably that most of them just kill themselves. The military suicide rate is alarming. My son is among the majority that saw multiple year long deployments. He has struggled. Still, I doubt more mental health counselors is the answer for PTSD. I was diagnosed with it from breast cancer. Talking to therapist who didn't have a clue wasn't helpful. Meeting with, talking to other survivors is what makes the difference. I think that opening up opportunities for them to meet and talk would make a difference. We need more groups like VFW's and they need to be encouraged to get involved.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the mental health field pays crap. I sought and received (much-needed) inpatient treatment for PPD and all of the social workers were fresh-faced, just out of college kids who meant well but had no clue what to say/do. After discharge it wasn't much better; the therapist I (briefly) saw could only come up with "try yoga" as a solution. Fortunately, I found a psychiatrist who was extremely effective with management of both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy...at a price of about $150 per session higher than the psychologist. Of course, that's pay up front with minimal reimbursement from my insurance (and that was GOOD ppo insurance). Not sure if everyone could afford that, especially those so traumatized by their military experiences, living on disability, and very limited insurance.
Problem is that so many people don't see mental illness as a "real" disease. The guy who has a heart attack obviously can't come to work, while the one who has a psychotic break must be making it up and just needs a good kick in the ass and not a doctor.
Many people don't realize how devastating it can be until it affects them or a loved one. And even then some still don't believe it.
So insurance benefits for mental illness are piss-poor. In my area the psychiatrists have figured this out, too. Not a single one takes insurance, and appointments start at $150 for 30 minutes (which I have no issue with them getting). And if you can't afford that, there's no net to catch you.
Dr. Grumpy's first paragraph says it all. Exactly that.
Post a Comment