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ARMY REAFFIRMS POLICY OF QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH
CARE -- "It's not only OK. It's encouraged to
seek
mental health care. We're a nation that
cares about our soldiers."
Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley
U.S. Army Surgeon General
Background here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJAN07/nf012107-3.htm
and here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJAN07/nf012507-3.htm
Story here...
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_
5305056,00.html
Story below:
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Army reaffirms policy of mental health care
By Joe Garner, Rocky Mountain News
COLORADO SPRINGS — Fort Carson provides a high standard of mental health
care, contrary to an investigation into allegations that some soldiers
were denied treatment, the Army’s top doctor said today.
"It’s not only OK. It’s encouraged to seek mental health care," Lt. Gen.
Kevin Kiley said at a press conference. "We’re a nation that cares about
our soldiers."
Kiley, the Army’s surgeon general and post officials talked with the
news media on the first day of a site visit by four members of the
Department of Defense Mental Health Task Force.
The committee, made up of 14 military and civilian members, is to report
to the Secretary of Defense on mental health issues affecting the
nation’s armed forced in May.
The press session followed a closed meeting early today with soldiers
and their families. The visits continue Friday with discussions about
health care issues with practitioners and Evans Army Medical Center on
the southern Colorado post.
Separate from the task force visit, the post is in the cross hairs of a
Department of Defense investigation into soldiers’ contentions they were
refused treatment for combat-related emotional problems, including post
traumatic stress disorder.
Three senators asked the Pentagon last month to launch the investigation
after widely publicized news reports about problems at Fort Carson.
"We’re not going to tolerate biases against soldiers who seek help,"
Major Gen. Robert Mixon Jr., the Fort Carson commander, said.
"We care very much about the welfare of our soldiers and their
families," Mixon said.
The task force’s two-day visit to Fort Carson followed public hearings
in Tacoma, Wash., earlier this week.
At least one veterans group has questioned why the interviews with the
soldiers at Fort Carson were closed, especially because of the news
reports it failed to respond to soldiers’ mental health problems.
Post officials said the meeting was closed to protect privacy of
military families.
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Larry Scott
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