PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder): An anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. People with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal. They may experience sleep problems, feel detached or numb, or be easily startled.

TBI (traumatic brain injury): Also called a concussion.

ASR (acute stress reaction): The immediate aftermath of a traumatic incident in a combat zone. The military describes it as normal reactions among troops confronted by abnormal situations.

CID (critical incident debrief): The Army's term for a mandatory session that takes place 24 to 72 hours after an event that may be sapping a soldier's will to fight.

We need the Civilian population Now to come to the Aid of this Countries Veterans and start a Hard Lobby, to their Representatives, in Support of it's Veterans!

Especially for these Veterans of todays Conflicts, Support from the Country that was Overwelming, over 70%, in Favor of Invasion and Occupation and now Pays Little Heed to!

32,000 Vets To Be Warned About Suicide-Linked Drug

ABC News/Washington Times Investigation Leads To Action

32,000 to be notified? 32,000 Veterans, how many are probably suffering from PTSD/Depression already, apparently are in this program unearthed by ABC News and the Washington Times, 32,000!

Responding to an ABC News/Washington Times investigation, the Veterans Administration plans to inform 32,000 veterans that they are using a drug linked to suicide or violent behavior.

And we already know where the administration stood on this from the previous reports:

The Bush White House had initially defended the VA's handling of the Chantix experiment.

Brought back to light in this one.

On PBS NOW Tonight 6-13-08

Of the thousands of U.S. troops getting discharged from the Army each year, many who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries aren't getting the vital care they need. The Army claims these soldiers have pre-existing mental illnesses or are guilty of misconduct. But advocates say this is a way for the Army to get rid of "problem" soldiers quickly, without giving them the treatment and benefits to which they're entitled.

While waiting for a Video Link at ABC News I went over to see if the CBS Report, that some of us knew was coming for a few days now, was up yet, the report was there sans the video with Carissa Picard, of Military Spouces for Change but I found a few more, one with the family members.

Carissa sent out and posted the report she was interviewed for as well as that video, you will find them all below with linkbacks to the reports.

This is just one result of the Apathy after the Cheering and Support of!

If it isn't enough that the majority of the 3,889 soldiers (as of 1am CDT 12/14/07) that are now dead from this war are under 30 - now apparently many who have survived the war are so plagued with mental illness that they are committing suicide.

Today December 12, 2007, there's a hearing on Stopping Suicide and Ending Homelessness: Mental Health Challenges Within the Department of Veterans Affairs by the House Veterans' Affairs Committee,

Ilona Meagher, of PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within and author of Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops, is scheduled to be one of the ones to testify at this Congressional hearing, as many already know. If you have the chance, and C-Span carries this hearing please watch! Ilona has a short send off post at her site, seems though she's caught in the Mid West ice storm, here's hoping this Important New Voice on PTSD can make it to DC!

Visit 'Ilona's' DKOS Diary, link below, and give her a hand on her request, Please!

She only has a few days to Collect the needed information to be able to add it to the Congressional Record.

A snippet of her post is below, Much More at KOS!

The following, Hurricane Katrina Victims' Mental Health Worsens was aired on NPR's Morning Edition on Nov 1st

A new report on the mental health of Hurricane Katrina victims shows patterns in the Gulf Coast that are contrary to post traumatic stress disorder usually seen after major disasters. The mental health of Hurricane Katrina victims is worsening with the drawn out recovery time.

You can listen to a discussion of the report at subject link above.

I feel compelled to write about this due to the Washington Post story on it yesterday and a diary by BentLiberal, as a soldier who tried to kill myself twice while on active duty, both times by overdose and failing to do it, I ended up in the lockdown wards, the most memorable one is floor 13 at DDEAMC, Fort Gordon, Georgia in 1978, most buildings don't acknowledge having a 13th floor so to have the mental ward located on it, just seemed ironic to me.

Road to Recovery:

It has been six months since we first told the story of two soldiers struggling to recover from traumatic brain injuries, caused by roadside bombs in Iraq. Tonight, Bob Woodruff checks in with those soldiers and takes a look at their long road to recovery.

July 30, 2007
New help for US soldiers with PTSD

Ten months ago on his first day of combat in Iraq, 20-year-old American soldier Jonathan Aponte was in his unit's chow hall where he watched a sergeant pick up her gun. She locked, loaded, put the gun to her own head and pulled the trigger.

Last week Aponte stood under a bridge on Gunhill Road in the Bronx, lit a cigarette, closed his eyes, and waited for his own bullet to free him from redeployment to Iraq.

The bullet would come, but not from his own gun.

It aired this morning on NPR's Morning Edition-Saturday, at the end of this post about Andrew there's another short inteview with Tammy Duckworth.