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Senator speaks on panel at School of Professional Psychology

June 16, 2008 ... On Friday, June 13, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D – Uxbridge, offered these words at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP) in Boston: “We are greatly concerned in this state about the invisible wounds of war – the mental health of our returning veterans, the stress, depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – which raise the specter of rising levels of domestic violence and suicide. We need to begin focusing on their recuperation as well as building awareness and support programs with their families about what to expect when the veterans return.”

Moore, who is the Chairman of the Health Care Financing Committee, is one of three experts who offered guidance at a free public forum exploring solutions to an impending mental health crisis among returning veterans. The forum, which was entitled “Returning War Veterans: Meeting Health Needs of Veterans, Families and Communities,” was the focal point of the 31st Annual Erich Lindemann Memorial Lecture at MSPP.

Joining Sen. Moore was Dr. Jaine Darwin, Co-Chairman of the SOFAR Project (Strategic Outreach to Families of all Reservists), who spoke of essential outreach efforts to veterans, families and community, and Dr. Jonathan Shay, Staff Psychiatrist at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Boston and author of Combat Trauma and The Trials of Homecoming.

A recent RAND Corporation report stated that 300,000 veterans have mental health problems and 320,000 have brain injuries. Nearly 50 percent of those in need do not seek mental health services, the reasons being mainly, career stigma, worries about medication side effects, and the belief that family and friends might be able to help them instead.

On average, about 18 veterans commit suicide each day, and since last August, a Department of Veterans Affairs hotline made more than 720 suicide rescues and responded to more than 37,200 calls for help.

Eric Hall, a 24 year old veteran of Iraq, is just one example of a veteran experiencing the “invisible wounds” of war. In February, the community of Port Charlotte, Florida searched for weeks after Hall went missing. Hall had been experiencing severe combat flashbacks from the War in Iraq in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. Hall’s body was later found in a hillside pipeline, after committing suicide.

The case of Eric Hall is indicative of many of the subjects discussed in the panel on Friday afternoon. In addition, the panel was moderated by Dr. David Satin, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Chairman of the Erich Lindemann Memorial Lecture Committee at MSPP.

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