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"People with post traumatic stress disorder oftentimes don't know they have it. It's the people around them, the people that know them that see the signs," said Linda Schwartz, state commissioner of veterans' affairs. "Their families can call the Military Support Program for information and maybe help to plan an intervention rather than just trying to talk to them about it."
Many veterans find it hard to admit they are having mental health issues post deployment.
"For some individuals, this is adversely true. Certain veterans will have difficulty asking for help," said Michael Balkunas, chief of psychiatry and behavioral health and medical director of psychiatry and behavioral health research at the Hospital of Central Connecticut. "The great thing is it can be treated with psychotherapy and medication."
Post traumatic stress is just one of the many disorders that can be diagnosed and treated under state's Military Support Program.
Created in March 2007, the program falls under a state law that requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to work with Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Children and Families, to provide transitional behavioral health services for members of any reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents called to active duty in Afghanistan or Iraq, according to a report by the Office of Legislative Research.
"The Military Support Program is unique in the nation, no other state is providing these kinds of services," said Jim Tackett, director of veteran services at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
In the wake of the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas last week, Gov. M. Jodi Rell issued a statement reminding veterans and military personnel of the services available through the program. While it's unclear if stress or fear of a pending deployment contributed to an army psychiatrist's killing spree, relatives of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan told the Associated Press he was deeply affected by his work treating soldiers returning from war zones.
"The senseless killings at Fort Hood have left us all in a state of disbelief," Rell said. "Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the victims' families. This was a brutal crime that this nation will not forget. Here in Connecticut, we continue to be at the forefront in addressing our veterans' mental health needs."
Unlike the insurance plan provided to active duty National Guard and Reserve members, which extends only six months after an individual's active duty finishes, the Military Support Program can extend months or years and cover pre-deployment, deployment, and post deployment for veterans and their families.
"When a veteran or family member calls the care center phone number, they can get names of three clinicians in their area," Tackett says. "We also provide community case management services for two reasons. First of all to make sure veterans are successfully connected to treatment as well as to assure they receive all the benefits and services they may need."
Within the program's first 17 months, it served 600 veterans. Over 40 percent of the soldiers or veterans and family members participating in the outpatient counseling received a primary diagnosis of depression and over 20 percent of military personnel and veterans received counseling support for post traumatic stress disorder consistent with U.S. Defense Department nd federal VA studies.
Veterans with PTSD are not alone and with the 20th anniversary of the National Organization for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, many are hoping for more treatment options.
In the future, "maybe there will be different types of psychotherapy. We may provide specific treatment depending on individual types of trauma, gender, or background," Balkunas said.
If you or a veteran you know is experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post traumatic stress disorder, contact the Military Support Program call center at 1-866-251-2913.
skondracki@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2344
