Treating “Wounds Of The Mind”
August 28, 2008
Awhile back, I wrote this story about the new Restoration and Resiliation Center at Fort Bliss and how they were utilizing alternative therapies to help treat Soldiers suffering from PTSD and TBI. I also wrote a few weeks later about how they Army was hoping to replicate the program across the Army, because of the successes they were having at Fort Bliss.
Currently the US military has $4 million allotted to study whether alternative and holistic therapies can help to mend the “wounds of the mind.” Because of the high numbers of Soldiers returning that have been diagnosed with PTSD and TBI, the government is currently offering grants for groups to conduct clinical studies on the effects of therapies such as yoga, Reiki, animal assisted therapies, meditation, etc. According to the DoD’s request for proposals which closed on May 15th, they are totally supportive of the use of alternative therapies, if they are proven to be efficacious.
One person, who has applied for a research grant, Lola Scarborough, the owner of Yoga Lola studio in League City, Texas, is hoping to be able to document the benefits of Kundalini yoga on veterans who are suffering form PTSD and TBI. According to Scarborough, Kundaline yoga awakens an untapped reserve within the people who utilize it, envisioned as a sleeping serpent at the base of the spine. The thought is that this untapped reserve can help veterans deal better with anger, flashbacks, depression and anxiety …. Symptoms that are often associated with PTSD and TBI.
“There is a big problem with people coming back from war. They are able to survive physical wounded through body armor, but they are blowing up their brains,” Scarborough said.1
Across the country, many yoga studios are offering free sessions to veterans who are suffering from PTSD and TBI. They understand that PTSD is a chronic condition and are hoping that their services will help these veterans. They’re not, by far a cure all. Often it’s found that a combination of traditional and holistic treatments work the best, which is what is occurring at the Fort Bliss program.
Practitioners of the holistic practices, say that things such as yoga, which is an ancient Hindu practice of utilizing meditation through controlled breathing, balancing and stretching, is great for relieving stress and trauma. Some Soldiers in Iraq are already using the yoga techniques, doing yoga when they can in their spare time, to help relieve the stressors.
The executive director of the VA’s National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, fells that the government’s willingness to attempt to find scientific proof that yoga and other holistic treatments are beneficial for patients suffering from PTSD and TBI is a positive move.
“This is what science is all about, testing something that a lot of people out there say works,” said Matthew Friedman.2
I’m all for this type of research. One of my uncle’s is a practitioner in Oriental medicine and teaches at a School of Natural Therapeutics in New Mexico. He has been in the practice for years and swears by it. I’ve talked with him extensively about his thoughts in utilizing these therapies for treatment of PTSD and TBI and am pretty excited about what he’s seen and been able to do. I look forward to hearing more about this and hope that more and more military installations across the country will begin utilizing these treatments. After all, if these non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical treatments prove effective, then this is a much better avenue of treatment for our Troops, then having them doped up on medication to help them on the road to recovery.
- http://www.courant.com/news/health/hc-vetyoga0825.artaug25,0,2313464.story [↩]
- http://www.courant.com/news/health/hc-vetyoga0825.artaug25,0,2313464.story [↩]
America’s Heroes At Work
August 22, 2008
With the number of wounded warriors who are medically discharged because their injuries prevent them from continuing their career in the military, the dilemma arises about how those veterans are going to be able to support themselves and their families. Several non-profit agencies, the VA and others have come forward with programs that help these veterans obtain education and employment, so that they’re able to rejoin the workforce. The government has also stepped up to the plate with different educational and employment initiatives, to help our wounded warriors in this transition. A new program, called Americas Heroes At Work is one such program.
One veteran, who exemplifies the America’s Heroes At Work, is former SSG Michael Bradley. Bradley was medically retired last year as a result of the signature wounds of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq …. PTSD and TBI. Bradley was a 6 year veteran of the Army, serving as a medic with 4th Infantry Division when he was injured, as a result of a blast from a roadside bomb, while serving in Baqubah, Iraq.
“I was driving a high-profile individual,” recalled Bradley, a former staff sergeant with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division. “All I remember is that I saw the flash, and I pulled him to get him out of the way of the blast. That’s all I remember.”1
Moments after he saw the flash, a 155 mm mortar, where Bradley had been sitting. The blast knocked him unconscious, which caused him to slump out of his seat, probably saving his life. Though he escaped without any major physical injuries, the memory of the event, has haunted him since then. So much so, that even the sound of a door slamming, puts him on edge.
“I went to Disneyland, and the cannons starting firing off the ship,” Bradley recalled. “And here I am low-crawling across the ground, knowing full well that I’m in Disneyland, but my body’s reacting.
“My mind is saying, ‘Get up you fool.’ But my body’s saying, ‘No. I’m not going to do it,’” he said.2
Because of his involvement with America’s Heroes At Work, Bradley was hired as an analyst with Halfacre and Associates in February. That job has proved to be pivotal in not only his transition from the Army to the civilian sector, but in his recovery as well. It’s helped him to realize that the skills he learned in the Army would transfer into the civilian world and provided him with the incentive to continue to work towards his recovery. He truly exemplifies the America’s Heroes At Work program.
“To get back into the work force and be able to see that I can succeed [and that] what I wrote down on my resume is true, and that I can do it, and I have a lot to offer … has really decreased stress,” he said. “To overcome those obstacles, and being able to be out in the work force, has really helped emphasize that I can do it and I can succeed.”3
From the America’s Heroes At Work website, a little about the program and their extremely worthwhile mission.
About America’s Heroes at Work
America’s Heroes at Work is a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) project that focuses on the employment challenges of returning service members living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The project equips employers and the workforce development system with the tools they need to help returning service members affected by TBI and/or PTSD succeed in the workplace - particularly service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.A Collaborative Effort
America’s Heroes at Work is managed jointly by DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) in collaboration with other federal agencies engaged in TBI and PTSD programs, including the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services and Education, the Small Business Administration, the Social Security Administration and others.Leading Injuries, Significant Challenges
Due to advances in military medicine and protective equipment, increased numbers of service members are surviving the injuries they sustain on the battlefield. However, the changing combat landscape has caused a sharp increase in TBI and PTSD, which are increasingly recognized as leading injuries of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hundreds of thousands of brave men and women will be coping with the challenges of TBI and PTSD as they reenter civilian life, today and for many years to come.Although their injuries may not be visible, service members with TBI or PTSD may face difficulties, especially with respect to employment. These individuals may suffer from headaches, vertigo, balance problems, anxiety and sleep disturbance, among other symptoms. They also may have cognitive symptoms including short-term memory deficits, poor concentration and decision-making difficulties. All of these can interfere with everyday activities, inside and outside of the workplace.
Answering the Call
For wounded and injured veterans, employment can play a significant role in the road the recovery. So to help our returning service members succeed in the workplace, America’s Heroes at Work is engaging in a targeted education campaign designed to increase awareness of TBI and PTSD issues among the workforce system and to educate employers on workplace accommodations they can make for these employees.The project offers a variety of educational resources devoted to improving employment-related outcomes for returning service members with TBI and/or PTSD. Materials include fact sheets, Web-based training tools, educational presentations and more - all designed for employers, workforce development professionals, service branches, key military support systems, veterans’ service organizations and One-Stop Career Centers.4
I’m really impressed with what I’ve read about the program and extremely excited to see the government take such an active role in ensuring our wounded warriors are able to transition into good jobs, by ensuring they have the appropriate education and training and working closely with the employers to ensure the workplace is one that can be supportive of them. It’s awesome to see companies such as Halfacre and Associates taking part in these programs. That tells me that they recognize the valuable asset that a veteran can be to their company.
America’s Heroes At Work Website
- http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50881 [↩]
- http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50881 [↩]
- http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50881 [↩]
- http://americasheroesatwork.gov/about.html [↩]
More Soldiers Survive Combat Injuries Then Ever Before
August 16, 2008
As many of you know, I worked for many years as a Paramedic. Throughout the time that I worked in the field of Emergency Medicine, I saw many advances in what we were able to do, to ensure that our patients survived their illness or injury. It’s been about 10 years now since I’ve worked in Emergency Medicine, but it’s remained something that is of extreme interest to me. I’ve marveled at the advances that have taken place, especially in Emergency Medicine over the years. New medications and equipment in the field, has allowed Paramedics to save the lives of people, that a few short years before, would have become casualties. Those advances have reached the combat zone as well. Because of those advances in the medical field, more and more Soldiers are surviving injuries sustained in combat than ever before. In fact that number has doubled as compared to the numbers during the Vietnam war.
“Overall, the battlefield care is much better than even in Desert Storm One. It’s really not what the doctors are doing. It’s Soldiers taking care of themselves; Soldiers taking care of each other. The best-trained medics we’ve ever had. The most courageous medics we’ve ever had,” said Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. He noted that around 170 medics have given their lives in Iraq and many more have been wounded. “We train … them to do very quickly what EMT’s and even Paramedics do in the civilian sector. They learn fast. They’re 18 year old kids and they know they’re going to be using those skills, and they’re paying attention because they know that they themselves could be one of the patients. Don’t underestimate what an 18 year old kid who decided to defer college to serve his or her country can learn. They can learn a hell of a lot,” he said.1
At a government executive event on Wednesday, one of those medics spoke to a group of government and medical officials. That medic, SSG Matt Sims, was wounded on three separate occasions during his second deployment to Iraq. Due to the emergency care he received, he was never evacuated out of theater, but recovered from his injuries in theater. He gives credit to not only the outstanding training that the Soldiers receive, but also advances in medical equipment. He was able to demonstrate for the group, the different bandages and tourniquets, as opposed to the old versions that date back many years. He demonstrated how the older versions of bangades didn’t stretch as easily and were prone to tearing. With injuries such as what he received, a chest injury with a punctured lung, often several bandages had to be used, as the older versions proved to be difficult to stick to the wound.
With todays advances, such as the advances in tourniquets that each Soldier carries and some that are built into their uniforms. The same bangade can be converted into a pressure bandage and also be used as a tourniquet. The bandages are easy to open and all of the necessary parts are in the package. Immediate care and the advances in the equipment all spell a better survival rate for the wounded.
“Getting definitive care on the battlefield at the point of injury, I think, attests to most of the lifesaving on the battlefield. If you stop a bleed soon, keep a wound clean at the point of injury, it’s saving hundreds of lives,” Simms said. He also praised the extensive training that medics and Soldiers get on how to use the lifesaving equipment.2
Currently, every Soldier must be certified as a combat lifesaver. Quick evacuations from the point of injury are another thing that has went a long ways to save the lives of injured Soldiers. If Soldiers need to be evacuated after receiving initial treatment at the point of injury and at the combat support hospital, they’re evacuated in C-17’s that have been converted into flying intensive care units. They’re even equipped with ventilators and all are staffed by nurses. Injured servicemembers who are evacuated, are at a military hospital in the United States within 72 hours of their injury.
Both Casscells and Sims both said that burns were some of the hardest injuries to treat. In the field, the only thing a medic can do, is to keep the burn site clean to help stave off infection. Further treatment is provided at the Combat Support Hospital. Soon though, the military will have nonrejectable skin, servicemembers will be able to save skin stem cells to help regenerate skin. The military is also working on skin-growth factors and scar inhibitors.
One thing that Simms noted that is important to understand for all, has to do with protective gear. The advances in the protective gear Soldiers are issued is tremendous. The design is such that injuries have been significantly reduced. However, according to Sims, some of the gear is very uncomfortable and often Soldiers don’t use it because of that.
“The Army can make the best equipment in the world for burns. Best equipment to stop bullets. Best helmets and things like that. But if they don’t make it comfortable, Soldiers will not wear it, no matter how expensive, no matter how much money they spend. I know from experience; if it’s not comfortable to wear in Iraq, where it’s 100 degrees, if you don’t make something that can breathe, that’s comfortable to wear, Soldiers aren’t going to wear it … It’s not doing any good, if it’s lying on the side of the road or in the vehicle and they’re not wearing it,” he said, adding that leaders also need to make sure Soldiers use all of their protective gear.3
As a former Paramedic, this is exciting news. Working in that job, nothing felt better, than to know that my efforts enabled a person, who might otherwise die, to live a full and active life, because of the actions I took in the field. With these types of advances in emergency medical care, it means that not only do many more Soldiers survive their war injuries, but many more citizens are also able to survive injuries they incur as a result of traumatic accidents.
- http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/14/11672-combat-survivability-has-doubled-since-vietnam-says-assistant-secretary/ [↩]
- http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/14/11672-combat-survivability-has-doubled-since-vietnam-says-assistant-secretary/ [↩]
- http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/14/11672-combat-survivability-has-doubled-since-vietnam-says-assistant-secretary/ [↩]
Conference Focuses Ways To Better Help Veterans
August 14, 2008
As we’ve wrote here often, behavioral health difficulties are one of the “injuries” we’re seeing come out of Iraq and Afghanistan. In a three day conference in Bethesda, Maryland, that began Tuesday, mental health issues were center stage. The conference, called “Paving the Road Home: The National Behavioral Health Conference and Policy Academy on Returning Veterans and Their Families,” is a collaborative effort of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“This … conference and policy academy is really designed, overall, to help states and territories and the District of Columbia think about new approaches, particularly approaches that blend expertise and resources from multiple contributors,” said Kathryn Power, director of SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services. “It’s going to provide framework to consider different approaches, dialogue with colleagues, and work toward a unified plan that they can take to their states to ensure that veterans have the [mental health] services they need and want.”1
This type of care is much needed. Military, VA and civilian care providers have been overwhelmed at the numbers of cases of PTSD and other behavioral issues coming out of the combat zones, with most of the agencies not having the staff numbers available to deal with those numbers. That has resulted in Soldiers sometimes having to wait several months for much needed care. However, it is something that the Department of Defense is very aware of and is taking measures to remedy.
One of the ways that they’re approaching the problems is by creating the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, which is headed by former Fort Hood Darnall Army Medical Center commander, Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree Sutton. Ground was broken for the new center in June of this year. It’s Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree Sutton’s goal to ensure that returning Soldiers, suffering from PTSD and TBI’s receive the best care that is humanly possible. Knowing her track record at Fort Hood, I’m sure that she’ll succeed in her mission.
“We’ve come up with a ‘center of centers’ concept because we’ve realized that none of us have all of the answers,” Sutton said. “We brought in four existing centers that have been doing great work for a long time.”2
The Center For Excellence will incorporate expertise from several existing centers, which are, Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, the Center for Deployment Psychology, the Deployment Health Clinical Center and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress.
One thing discussed at the conference, which has long been a roadblock in ensuring that Soldiers receive the mental health care that they need, is the stigma that has always been attached to a Soldier seeking mental health help. In the past, Soldiers who did so, were ostracized and were treated as if they were weak. Changing the mindset, is probably one of the most difficult tasks ahead. It’s one of the things that military leaders are working on constantly, encouraging Troops to seek the help they need and continuing to do so, to hopefully help reduce that stigma.
The conference continues through today. Additional topics will include financing the costs of care, and additional issues surrounding this complex problem. Hopefully leaders will walk away from the conference with some very real solutions and be able to implement those solutions as soon as possible.
- http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50782 [↩]
- http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50782 [↩]
Army Begins Uniform Modification Program For Wounded Warriors
August 10, 2008
Often, due to the very nature of their injuries, wounded warriors find that they have to modify their clothing to allow them more ease in getting dressed and undressed. Groups such as Sew Much Comfort have dedicated themselves to modifying clothing for the wounded warriors, as they recouperate from their injuries in military hospitals such as Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Medical Center and other military hospitals across the country. They adapted clothing, such as pants, shorts, swimwear and shirts, where it’s much easier for the wounded Soldier to get in and out of their clothing, by replacing the seams of the garmets with velcro. Sew Much Comfort has volunteers across the country who modify the clothing for our wounded warriors. The dedicated work of the Sew Much Comfort volunteers, has served to make life much easier for Soldiers who are recovering from their injuries.
Recently, the Army began a similar program, which would allow for modification of a Soldier’s uniforms, at no cost to them. The program, called the Wounded Warrior Clothing Support Program, officially began in May 2008. The Army recognized that many of our wounded warriors are proud of their ability to serve in the Army and that current uniforms were often difficult for wounded warriors to be able to wear. With the new program, wounded warriors can have their clothing modified according to their injuries. The program is designed to make the lives of the wounded warrior easier but to help restore their sense of pride and dignity that they deserve when they’re wearing their uniform.1
“This program is great because it takes care of our Soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Vincent Boles, assistant deputy chief of staff, Army G-4. “The team of individuals responsible for bringing this program to life saw a need and made it happen. Now our wounded warriors can wear their uniforms with pride, dignity and comfort.”
Due to the sheer number of recovering wounded warriors at Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Center, those two sites were chosen as the first Army Medical Centers to have this program in place. Soldiers who are receiving their medical care at other Army Medical Centers, are still able to participate in the program, through their local AAFES stores on their respective bases. The Army has established guidelines for wounded warriors to follow when getting their clothing modified.
The process of getting a uniform modified is similar to filling a medical prescription, officials said. A Soldier will work with his or her occupational or physical therapist, who will write a prescription for the changes. This prescription is written on a Personal Clothing Request, DA Form 3078. It will specify the measurements and describe what types of modifications need to be made. The Soldier will then take this prescription and his or her uniform to an AAFES designated location to turn in the items. The modifications will be made and the uniform returned within three to five days.
Through the program, Soldiers also have the opportunity to get commercial footwear designed specifically for prosthetics. The heel of a standard Army boot is too high for use with a prosthetic and causes amputees to lean forward. The custom boots this program provides minimizes that effect, allowing Soldiers to wear the full uniform as it is intended to be worn. Customized athletic shoes are also available.
Just like customizing their uniform, Soldiers need a prescription to obtain special footwear, and they also need their commander’s signature on the prescription. The boots and athletic shoes can be purchased by either the medical facility or the local commander.
With more and more of our Wounded Warriors opting to stay active duty in the Army, I feel that this program is not only a necessity but a very wise decision by Army leaders. Programs such as this, show the Army’s dedication to do whatever is necessary to ensure that Wounded Warriors who chose to remain active duty Soldiers are able to do so. If any of our readers are interested in assisting recovering warriors, through Sew Much Comfort, please visit their website, which I’ll have a link to below. Their website details what the group does, as well as suggestions for other supplies that our wounded warriors might need during their stay at the hospital.
- http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/04/11436-army-begins-uniform-modification-program-for-wounded-warriors/ [↩]
- http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/04/11436-army-begins-uniform-modification-program-for-wounded-warriors/ [↩]
- http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/04/11436-army-begins-uniform-modification-program-for-wounded-warriors/ [↩]
The Mission: To Diagnose & Treat Troops Suffering From TBI
July 25, 2008
One of the most common injuries to be seen coming out of the combat zones of Afghanistan and Iraq are Traumatic Brain Injuries. Because of the complexity of the injury and the fact that it’s not an injury that can been visually seen, in the past, our Troops haven’t been treated for this injury. Many have also been sent back to the combat zone, due to the hidden nature of the injury, putting them at more risk of further injury. The problems that can be caused by a traumatic brain injury, if not diagnosed and treated appropriately, can be life changing and possibly career ending.
Now, with new aggressive screening being done on Soldiers who are injured and flown to Landsthul Army Medical Center in Germany, more and more of this injuries are being diagnosed and Troops are receiving the treatment the injury requires. Because our Troops in the combat zone risk being exposed to sometimes multiple blasts , the concussion type effect can cause severe injury to the brain, as it’s effects causes the brain to slam against the skull.
The Pentagon has now mandated that all military branches begin to screen Troops for Traumatic Brain Injury. Some bases are even testing Soldiers prior to deployment and again after they return, in hopes that by comparing the two test results, they’ll be better able to identify Troops who have suffered a TBI.
When Troops are wounded or injured in Afghanistan and Iraq, one of their first stops is at the Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. There, an aggressive screening program is conducted. Even if they aren’t there for a possible brain injury, the screening is conducted and many previously missed TBI’s are being discovered.
“One of the things we’ve learned here at Landstuhl is you have to be actively looking for this to find it,” said Col. Stephen Flaherty, who oversees the TBI screening process at Landstuhl.1
If doctors have even the slightest indication that a service member has suffered from TBI, it’s almost a certainty that they won’t be returned to combat. In the past 6 months, several hundred Troops were diagnosed with mile TBI. Only two of them have been allowed to return to the combat zone. The hopes are that the aggressive screening process at Landstuhl will provide caregivers with valuable information that will help them learn how to best spot and treat brain injuries.
“If I have a hint of a whiff of suspicion – no matter how vehemently you want to go back downrange ( to Iraq) – that you will be compromised, then I’ve got to be the black hat and say, ‘No you’re not going back,’” says Major Shawna Scully, a neurologist who directs TBI recovery. “I’m sure there are some commanders downrange,” she added, “who are furious with me because I didn’t take X Soldier and send them back.”2
In Landstuhl, the TBI screening program began in 2006, but was expanded in the past year. As new patients arrive, they are asked about the way they were hurt and any symptoms that they might have, such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, light sensitivity and balance problems. Memory skills are also tested, such as short-term memory and problem-solving skills. A neurophysical exam, MRI and eyesight evaluations are also performed. Since 2006, doctors at Landstuhl have been able to identify 2,391 brain injuries in Troops. Most of them received that injury from exposure to a blast. According to their numbers, TBI injuries make up about 15% of all the patients who arrive at the hospital. Read more
- http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-23-brain-injuries_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip [↩]
- http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-23-brain-injuries_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip [↩]
Army Chief Of Staff: Fort Bliss PTSD Program Should Be Replicated
July 22, 2008
After the Army Chief of Staff General George Casey made a visit to the Fort Bliss PTSD program on July 13th, it impressed him so much that he said publicly that the program should be replicated across the Army at other locations as well. We’ve told you about the program in Fort Bliss, in this story in May, which is unique in the Army, as it offers a more holistic approach to treating PTSD, including such things as acupuncture, massage, meditation, reiki and qi gong. We told you how much we were impressed by this program and how we’d like to see other installations utilize the same treatment model.
The program is operated by Dr. John Fortunato, who is a Benedictine monk, Vietnam veteran and clinical psychologist. The program opened it’s doors a year ago and thus far, has been very successful in assisting Soldiers suffering from PTSD, to return to active duty, instead of being medically discharged from the Army.
“Unfortunately you can’t package John Fortunato and move him around and it really takes someone with that passion to drive these kinds of operations,” said General Casey. “But there are some of the elements of this, that are clearly exportable, and we will do that.”
This is great news for the Army. As I said in my previous article about the Fort Bliss center, it’s something that does need to be replicated around the entire Armed Forces. In the past, many Soldiers who were struggling with PTSD were medically discharged from the military and unable to continue their careers, even if that’s what they wanted to do. Fortunato’s program has allowed several to continue their careers. In the past, if Soldiers weren’t deemed fit for duty after a course of about three months, they were medically discharged, often against their own desires.
“There were two things about that, that didn’t seem right,” Fortunato said. “I got tired of Soldiers crying in my office, telling me they did not want to get out, that the Army was their life, and it’s all they knew. All I could say is, ‘Sorry, we have to discharge you.’ It tore me up.”
During sessions with Soldiers over time, Fortunato said that he realized that they often needed much more than just psychological treatment. As he met with these Soldiers, he noticed that they fidgeted, hands and feet constantly tapping and shaking, sometimes throughout their entire sessions. He also noticed that many had spiritual questions and had a tendency to isolate themselves from their friends and loved ones. That was when the idea of building a place where the physical, spiritual and psychological aspects could be treated to help these Soldiers stay in the military if they desired to do so. Alternative or holistic treatment modalities weren’t readily accepted in the military, so the job to sell his idea would be difficult. That difficulty didn’t sway him from his mission, as he persistently pleaded to get approval and the funding to open the facility. His instinct was to design a facility, where the Soldiers who came there, felt comfortable. The last thing he wanted for them to do was isolate in their rooms. Because a person suffering from PTSD, is often over-stimulated, they often tend to isolate themselves and avoid contact with other persons.
“Only – we can’t leave them there,” he said. “So I had to sort of seduce them out of their rooms.”
Fortunato decided that the facility would have a “vacation resort” type appearance, which would likely help to put the Soldiers at ease. At the entrance to the facility, visitors are met with oversized leather, mission type chairs, wood floors. In the background is the sound of trickling water, that comes from a fountain that sits in the lobby. Put together, it lends a relaxing and calming ambience to the room. At the end of one hallway, is a room that appears Asian in design. In the background are therapeutic sounds. That room is the meditation room.
Breaking Ground At the Center of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury
June 8, 2008
In late January I told our readers about the DoD Center of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury, that will be directed by newly promoted Brig. General Loree Sutton. I’m happy to let our readers know that on Thursday May 5th, the offical ground breaking ceremony was held in Bethesda, Maryland. What’s unique about the groundbreaking ceremony, is that Wounded Warriors joined Brig. Gen. Sutton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake in breaking ground for the new center. The center will provide state of the art treatment and is scheduled to open in late 2009. The center will provide rehabilitation and follow-up treatment for servicemembers suffering from TBI, PTSD and other complex psychological issues. The center will also serve as a research, testing and educational center.
“Above all, this center represents America’s dedication to providing first-class treatment for Troops who may be suffering combat-related stress and mental illness,” Gates said.
“Recently, the military, along with our partners in the VA and private sector have gone a long way toward putting programs and processes in place to deal with the psychological consequences of what has turned out to be a long war … This facility will provide a holistic approach featuring the latest advances to provide care for Troops and their Families throughout the recovery process,” Gates continued, noting that while technology has saved the lives of Soldiers, their brain injuries are not well understood yet.
One of the Wounded Warriors who participated in the ground breaking ceremony, was SPC Freddie Meyers. On May 3, 2007, SPC Meyers was shot in the head with an armor-piercing round that drove pieces of his skull into his brain. That resulted in a traumatic brain injury so catastrophic, that his doctors believed that he died three times. Read more
Army’s Committment To Mental Health Care & Prevention Of Suicides
May 31, 2008
On Thursday afternoon, I had the pleasure of participating in the Bloggers Roundtable discussion on Behavioral Health & Suicide Prevention. Speakers for the discussion were Lt. Co. Thomas E. Languirand, Chief of Command Policies and Programs Division, Chaplain (Col) Charles D. Reese, Office of the Chief of Chaplains and Col. Elspeth Ritchie, Psychiatric consultant to the Army Surgeon General.
LTC Languirand opened the discussion by saying that the Army values the well-being of it’s Soldiers and their Families. He emphasized that the Army is committed to them by ensuring that they can learn to increase their coping skills. The Army is committed to addressing the risk factors and to remove the stigma that is associated with seeking mental health care for problems. LTC Languirand stressed that the Army feels that even one suicide is one suicide too many and the Army is actively pursuing educational means and interventions that they hope will decrease the number of suicides in the military. Things that are being used, such as the Army’s Battlemind Training, are being utilized prior to and following deployments. That training as well is being offered to family members. The training is designed to teach Soldiers and their family members to recognize signs of problems, so that they can encourage each other and their family members to seek help when necessary. I’ve reviewed the Battlemind Training for Soldiers as well as the training for Family members and it’s definately a step in the right direction. The hope is that by teaching Soldiers what to look out for in each other and teaching Family members what to look for with their Soldiers returning from downrange, they can help in the prevention of suicides and other mental health problems. It’s great training and I encourage anyone who has contact with Soldiers to go to the Army Battlemind Training Website and utilize the information that is provided there.
Chaplain (Col) Reese then explained the role of Chaplains in suicide prevention and mental health care, saying that they offer religious and spiritual support for Soldiers and their Families. Chaplains also provide Soldiers and their Family members assistance with learning coping skills both during and after deployments. When units deploy downrange, Chaplains deploy with them, to offer their support with the myriad of difficulties that can arise during the deployment. Chaplains are also an essential piece in dealing with routine and crisis situations and they are the primary trainers in the Army for suicide prevention.
The last speaker, Col. Ritchie spoke in length about the ways in which the Army is working to expand their intensive out-patient programs, in order to ensure that Soldiers and their Family members have the assistance available to them that is necessary. She went on to mention the Holistic approaches that are beginning to be utilized in the treatment of PTSD, in suicide prevention and the treatment of TBI’s. There are several pilot programs in place, such as the Restoration and Resilience Center in Fort Bliss that I’ve reported about in the past. As you may recall, the program at Fort Bliss, utilizes alternative medicine, such as yoga, meditation, martial arts, qigong, reiki and accupuncture, to name a few. A similar program is in place at Walter Reed. Col. Ritchie stated that at this time, the programs are in the research stages and that they’re watching closely to monitor their results in the programs. Col. Ritchie also mentioned programs being conducted utilizing Virtual Reality in Fort Sill, Ok., Ft. Lewis, Wash. and at Walter Reed. Having read extensively about these programs and the successes they’ve had so far, I’m pretty impressed and feel that both of the programs bear watching, as programs that may prove extremely successful in treating Soldiers suffering from PTSD and TBI’s.
Col. Ritchie stressed that the Army is actively looking to expand the number of mental health providers. They are also looking at increasing the number of Tricare providers and are working to help educate civilian providers and expand their knowledge base to better treat Soldiers suffering from PTSD. Efforts are also underway to educate primary care providers on how to treat PTSD.
The floor was open for discussion and many great questions were asked and answered. One participant had concerns about a Soldier seeking mental health help and staff at emergency rooms not picking up on signs of depression. Col. Ritchie responded by saying that Soldiers who are exhibiting signs of mental health problems are seen in the military emergency rooms by mental health workers and those problems are being addressed in the emergency rooms. She did admit that no system is perfect and that occasionally someone who may not vocalize that they’re experiencing depression or looking to harm themselves, may not be recognized, that they are working hard to ensure that no one needing mental health care falls through the cracks.
Mental Health care in Iraq and Afghanistan were addressed as well, with the participant asking if Soldiers were being prescribed anti-depressants downrange without being fully diagnosed with depression. Col. Ritchie assurred that mental health providers are in theater and are thoroughly evaluating patients to ensure that they receive the appropriate care. Evaluations used in theater are the same as evaluations utilized in the states. She stressed that providers understand the importance of correct diagnosis prior to prescribing medication.
The last question addressed the stigma of a Soldier seeking mental health help and how the Army was addressing that to ensure that Soldiers aren’t stigmatized when asking for help. Col. Ritchie stated that the military as a whole is dedicated to ensuring that the stigma is removed and the DoD has taken the lead to ensure that by revising the questionnaire for national security positions, patrticulary question 21. The revised question, she said, now excludes non-court-ordered counseling related to marital, family or grief issues, or counseling for issues related to military service in a combat zone. Another step is educating Soldiers and leadership on the importance of seeking help that the Army is actively pursuing. They are also working to ensure that leadership encourages Soldiers who need help with mental health issues, such as PTSD or depression, to seek that help and not stigmatize the Soldier when they do seek help.
This roundtable discussion was very informative and highlighted the many avenues the Army is actively taking to ensure that our Soldiers and their Family members receive the best care possible as quickly as possible.
Defenselink Bloggers Roundtable
Soldier/Cowboy Launches Army’s Wounded Warrior Sports Program
May 28, 2008
On February 11, 2007, SPC Jake Lowrey was in Fallujah, Iraq when he and a fellow Soldier were hit by an IED that left his fellow Soldier dead and left Lowrey severely injured. Lowrey lost his right eye, sustained a massive head injury from the explosion and suffers from PTSD. Less than a year after being injured, Lowrey, who’s been a cowboy all of his life, was back atop a horse and roping steers.
“This pretty much keeps me going - it’s the only thing that does,” Lowrey said. “Without it, I’d just be hanging out in my room somewhere.”
On May 10th and 11th, Lowrey officially launched the US Army Wounded Warrior Sports Program, by participating in a team-roping performance at Denny Calhoun Arena in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The program was designed to provide active-duty Soldiers who have sustained life-altering injuries, the opportunity to compete in a sporting event. The Army Wounded Warrior Sports Program pays for their athletic attire, registration fees, transportation and lodging and per deims. Lowrey traveled from his home in Alaska to El Paso, Texas and joined up with his fmaily for a ride to Silver City, N.M. There, he, his stepfather and grandfather loaded up a trailer with their horses and drove on to Las Cruces to participate in a weekend of roping. All three of them participated in the Troy Shelley Affiliate event.
“This is one of the best things the Armed Forces could have done, because it’s just therapy for these guys who feel like, ‘I lost that,’” said Retired SFC Pete Escobedo, Lowrey’s grandfather. “If you really want to do something with yourself … Jacob is a prime example. He’s really trying. We’re thankful for the Army for doing everything it can for him.”
Lowrey did well in the competition. In the first round he successfully roped two of six steers, in the first round. In the second round, he roped two more and another in the third round. That left him in third place in the event. In the last round, his steer got away. Despite his injuries and the limit it places on his depth perception, Lowrey was encouraged that his roping skills will continue to improve. Since his injury, he’s already won an all-around crown in Alaska and teaming with his step-father, he captured a team roping title at the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association’s 2007 World Finals that were held in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I’m not back where I was, by any means,” Lowrey said. “I just keep practicing and hope it eventually comes back.”
Since his injury, Spc Lowrey has struggled with coming to grips with his injuries. His step-father, knowing him so well, felt like getting him back on a horse and doing something that he loves is probably the best therapy for him, that he could think of. Over the weekend in Las Cruces, the three generations of cowboys took turns roping steers.
“Jake has done remarkably well in coping with his injury,” said his grandfather Pete Escobedo. “Instead of saying: ‘Well I’m injured,’ he says: ‘I’m going to do what I can. The Good Lord handed me this hand, so I’m going to do with what he dealt me the best I can.’”
His step-father and grandfather are both proud of what he’s accomplished since his injury, though both are aware that what’s happend to him, have changed him. Both feel it’s important for him to stay active and not allow him to sink into depression and self-pity. So, they do what they can to keep him active and doing things that he enjoys. By doing so, they in turn teach him that despite his injuries, he can participate in the things he enjoys and excel at them.
“If we can ever get him where he’ll just start talking again and intermingling with people and not being paranoid, I think life will be good,” said John Escobedo, his step-father. “When he’s on horseback or working out, he’s a normal guy. But we’ll be sitting at the house watching TV or something and it ain’t the same buy. We drove six or seven to the world finals - 14 hours of drive time - and he probably said three words. But you stick him on a horse or in the gym, where his comfort zone is, and he’s fine.”
Jake believes his desire to get back on a horse, get active and participate in what he loves, sets him apart from some of his wounded peers. While some of them were stuck pitying themselves and didn’t want to do anything, Jacob couldn’t wait to get active again and start doing the things he loves to do.
“Some of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation people told me about it (Wounded Warrior Sports Program) when I was at the Warrior Transition Unit,” SPC Lowrey said. “About two days later, I sent in the paperwork. I sent them about four or five events they could pick from.”
Army sports specialist Mark Dunivan, feels that this was the perfect venue for Spc Lowrey. He said he expects more applicants to follow and began participating in the program. He’s already been contacted by an amputee who wants to run in the USA Triathlon Physically Challenged National Champions, that is scheduled for July in New York. The hopes are, that as the word begins to spread about the program, that more Wounded Warriors will participate.
This is a great way for our Wounded Warriors to begin walking down the path to their recovery. So many of them were involved in different sporting events prior to joining the military, as well as during their time in the military. People like SPC Lowrey, Major David Rozelle and scores of other Wounded Warriors who have not let their injuries stop them from participating in sporting events that they love, serve as fantastic role models to other Wounded Warriors.
To discover more about the Army Wounded Warrior Sports Program, please visit the Army MWR website, or contact Army Sports Specialist Mark Dunivan by email at mark.dunivan@us.army.mil .
