The Virginian-Pilot has an excellent article in today's paper, talking about a recent, regional conference of social workers and others who met to address concerns of troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and the services they will require. Click here for a link to that story, entitled, "Conference at Fort Monroe Touts Medical Resources for Vets." The regional conference was put on by a program called, "Virginia is for Heroes," and it seems to have covered a lot of ground.
Navy commander and psychologist, Beverly Dexter, Ph.D., spoke, as did several others, including Harold Kudler, a VA physician and mental health services manager. (See our profile of Beverly Dexter, Ph.D., linked here. Dexter will also be speaking at the Washington State Psychological Association's annual seminar on April 11th and 12th in Seattle. Click here for a link to that story.) According to Kudler, referencing Vietnam veterans, the trend is for one-third of veterans with PTSD to seek help from the VA; the other two-thirds apparently seek help elsewhere (including those who don't seek help at all?). Among current veterans, the trend seems to be, 37% of those eligible have sought treatment from the VA, for all health conditions, not just psychological help.
Kudler and others wonder where the other 63% are going -- the so-called "Silent Majority," who may be suffering less visibly. The implication, according to the article, referencing Kudler, is that "this “silent majority” of recent combat veterans may turn to other sources for help – churches, family doctors, community service boards – that need to be prepared to assist them." Apparently Beverly Dexter, Ph.D., and others believe the abundance of community mental health providers and resources is sufficient as is -- but effort may need to be made to link those in need with the resources available. Educational outreach by the VA to veterans and veterans' families, as we've reported on recently, seems to be part of the solution. Good article about progress being made.
Editor's note: for a link to "Virginia is for Heroes," click here.
