If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨
Highest Decorated Soldier Decries the state of Veteran Mental Healthcare
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
It's not exactly news but if it disgraces a few senior politicians into making some improvements, all's the better;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7916221.stm
Poor mental healthcare for soldiers returning from witnessing or experiencing horrendous scenes, in both the British and American armed forces, is something of a silent scandal that's never been away.
In America, the proportion of population of homeless that are vietnam veterans is on the decrease - partly due to mortality but even more so due to the fact that they are being superceded by veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7916221.stm
Poor mental healthcare for soldiers returning from witnessing or experiencing horrendous scenes, in both the British and American armed forces, is something of a silent scandal that's never been away.
In America, the proportion of population of homeless that are vietnam veterans is on the decrease - partly due to mortality but even more so due to the fact that they are being superceded by veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq.
0
Comments
ARGH.
I hate the way the government can spend money on arms but not actually look after the soldiers or families. Knobs.
One of the key points made by Stop The War at the start of this, was that the legacy of bitter conflicts, particularly those motivated by foreign policy goals or ideologies that are pushed through by particularly forceful governments (Vietnam, Iraq) - they are the first to cry 'heroes' when the battle starts, but where's all the help when they get back?
America's treatment of it's veterans after Vietnam was an utter scandal, and so is a lot of what has happened after Iraq - but that's ok, because in a great deal of cases of both sets of returning combatants were drawn from the poorest sections anyway. :banghead:
Back on the specific subject: from my understanding (which is at best partial) - military mental health services are highly specialised, they need access to services that address the highly exception circumstances that give rise to their symptoms - long term, sustained, reliable services.
Pushing these people into the public system is pointless and dangerous for two reasons;
1) The public MH system is at breaking point in many areas of the country as is.
2) The services are largely inadequate to deal with their needs.
For my part I think the citizenry needs to take more interest and active involvement in the issue, and hopefully this will help.
The fact is that the government are happy to use and destroy people to achieve whatever it is that they want. I don't think you can blame normal people for that.
You're right, but there are also so many people who are against the war (understandle) but they want to take it out on the soldiers. It's not the soldiers' fault!
I'm not one of these "Don't support the troops", I do, but only on wars that are justified, if there is such a thing. This war isn't justified.
No, I know it's not. And yes, these people do know what they're going into.
I just feel that it shouldn't shrug there shoulders and say, "Oh well, their decision." Yes, it is, but it's a really fucking gutsy one to make.
Going to war and knowing that it isn't justified, knowing that your government doesn't give a fuck must be really tough.
I think the problem is that people in favour of the war in Iraq have portrayed those against the war as being against soldiers and not thinking they're worth the care they need.
I do know people who believe soldiers shouldn't be a higher priority than other groups, but that's because they know someone who's not recieving the care they should be. To be honest, I don't think whether people like the existence of an army, or them getting funding, is relevant. The government was happy to do to war so it's their responsibilty to make sure the soldiers get the care they need. Even if the whole country was against it I don't think it would matter because it's the government's responsibilty.
I find it ironic how the TV authorities say that McDonalds can't advertise fatty foods without advertising a healthy option. Then there is the MOD advertising the army.
-- oh and most of the people who go into the wars actually either don't know it isn't justified or they just don't care and go into it for the thrill and money. I know some of my family members are like that. There's loads of videos from Army soliders from both the USA and UK who talk about wanting to leave, refusing to fight, hating what they're doing because they know it's all a fad - but they can't say more than that due to the situation they're in.
My views on war will stand for life, I don't support it. If there's no one willing to fight in a war, there wont be any. That's how I see it.
Apparently the chaplains come back worse off. They've had to be supportive of everybody through life changing decisions and trauma. Who do they turn to?
If he needs the help when he gets back, I want him to have the very best. He's my dad, so easy to say. But I admire his position and his integrity and I believe that should be rewarded when he returns, even if all that means is the best mental health care.