“There's no question there is still a stigma,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley in reference to post-traumatic stress disorder in the Army, speaking at the third Family Forum of the 2005 AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington.

To address the issue, the Army will soon launch a pilot program that will screen each soldier of a select unit at the end of their deployment, said Kiley. Just as every solider gets a post deployment dental exam, they will also—those participating in the pilot program—get a post deployment reassessment for PTSD within 90 to 180 days, said Kiley.

Speaking Oct. 5, Kiley also highlighted other efforts aimed at dealing with trauma in combat, such as mental health assessment teams and combat stress control teams that join soldiers in theater. He also emphasized that every senior leader is supportive of the efforts to better address PTSD in the Army. All of these efforts are there to help soldiers dealing with PTSD and remove the sigma associated with the condition, he said.

Symptoms and Treatment of PTSD
John Moore, professor of psychology and health sciences at American Military University, outlined symptoms of PTSD, which, he said, typically occur six months or later after a trauma.(PTSD-like symptoms that occur in less than six months are likely associated with acute stress disorder, said Moore).

The most common symptoms of PTSD are an inability to fall asleep, irritability, problems focusing, angry outbursts, substance abuse, hyperactivity, and being easily startled, said Moore. Soldiers suffering from PTSD may avoid the sound of rain, mistaking it for gunfire, for example. Similarly, they may dive to the ground over the sound of an airplane, said Moore.

Families can best help soldiers dealing with PTSD by being supportive of and patient with them, educating themselves about the topic, and helping the soldier get treatment, said Moore. Treatment methods include cognitive therapy, anti-anxiety medications, and group therapy for soldiers and their families, said Moore.

Tips for Families Dealing with a Deployment
Moore said there is much soldiers and their spouses can do to minimize negative affects that can result from deployments. He cautioned against being a “bagger,” someone who suppresses their thoughts and emotions. Moore also provided a list of tips for “healthy communication,” including openly sharing feelings of love, avoiding rehashing old arguments, and broaching any problems with children honestly.

Don't fall into the temptation of staying at home on the sofa, thinking about when the next phone call will be—try to establish a date for the next call at the end of each phone call, said Moore. Moore also advised families to continue attending church, engaging in volunteer activities and sports, or doing whatever it was they did as a family before the deployment, said Moore. Celebrate holidays and birthdays, socialize with other military families, and engage children in “connection activities,” which recognize the importance of the deployed soldier in their lives. A connection activity may include making a greeting card, video recording, or illustration that depicts a happy memory of the child of his father or mother.

A couple of audience members raised concerns about the stigma of PTSA in the Army, suggesting that it may continue to keep many soldiers suffering from PTSA from getting help out of fear of perceived negatives affects it may have on their military careers. Moore suggested that soldiers talk to people with whom they trust.

Assistance for D3 Soldiers
“Making sure we take care of our own,” is the ethos of the Disabled Soldier Support System (DS3), said Col. Mary Carstensen, director of DS3. To that end, the group has taken on a advocacy role for severely disabled soldiers, said Carstensen. DS3 acts as liasion with congressional and Army leadership to gain resources for disabled soldiers, provides Family Management Specialists who track the progress of each soldier, and links sponsors from the community and private sector with soldiers, said Carstensen.

The group is working with 600 disabled soldiers, said Carstensen.