For Jeff & Ben...

As usual, I was listening to the Leonard Lopate show on WNYC while driving home from school today. Among the many topics covered relating to Veteran's Day, the segment "Backstory: The History of PTSD" with directors/producers John Alpert and Matt O'Neil really stuck with me. You may know Alpert and O'Neil from their HBO film "Baghdad ER" - they're back with a new film, "Wartorn 1861-2010" which premiers on HBO tonight. The film chronicles and discusses the history of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly known as PTSD - given how suicide rates among service members is still (horribly) on the rise, this film could not have come at a more critical time.

You may find a link to the broadcast of the interview by clicking here.


I urge you to watch this film and to also please educate yourself about PTSD and what you might be able to do to help a veteran in need.

Trailer

In gratitude. Mahalo.

opening the door of hope by a tiny crack

This is an encouraging bit of news.

This is an atrocity - I don't even know what to do about it.

There's a story that came out yesterday on Bloomberg that says:
"The number of suicides among veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may exceed the combat death toll because of inadequate mental health care, the U.S. government's top psychiatric researcher said."

Suicides will exceed combat deaths?

Something needs to be done about this and I don't even know where to begin since the MSM don't seem to want to make this a major issue by plastering it all over their newscasts and front pages.

I don't even know what to say. Where do you start?

For the few people that happen to read my blog, please do pass this information around. And if you happen to be a vet that reads this and you're experiencing depression or PTSD, there is help for you out there in form of your fellow soldiers and Marines. PLEASE contact VETS 4 VETS and get the help you so deservedly need.