The change from "mental health services" to "behavioral health services" seems to signal a policy shift.

by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org

The article below, from The Gazette of Colorado Springs, tells of the difficulties the Army is having getting GIs into mental health treatment because of the associated stigma.

So, shortly after this article was written, the Army decided to solve that problem:  They changed the name from "mental health services" to "behavioral health services," as reported by the Military Times Group:

The Pentagon issued a directive June 25 requiring Army commands at all levels to use the term “behavioral health services” when revising or updating policies, regulations, and documents relating to what heretofore have been called “mental” health services.  (Complete article here.)

This certainly is the Army way:  Don't fix the problem, just change the name.

But, changing the name doesn't change the reality.  What if we called murder a highly-accelerated end-of-life experience?  Would this make it more acceptable?

What I fear most about this change is that I believe it signals a not-so-subtle shift in Army policy as to how GIs will receive treatment and how they will receive disability ratings if their condition leads to discharge.  A "mental" condition is a medical problem.  By changing "mental" to "behavioral," it appears to put the burden back on the GI, as in, "Why are you behaving like that?"  That would indicate it is the GI's fault and all they have to do is change their behavior to solve whatever the problem might be.

This appears to be a dangerous shift in policy that will not benefit active-duty military members or veterans.

Use our search engine to learn more about the stigma associated with mental health treatment.

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Soldiers urged to take advantage of mental health resources

BRIAN NEWSOME
The Gazette

In recent years, the military has invested millions of dollars in mental health care, fueling a proliferation of treatment programs while attempting to reshape fundamental attitudes about mental illness.

But the stigma persists among the rank-and-file, keeping many troubled soldiers from taking advantage of help that is readily available, according to two Army generals.

The Army's top psychiatrist, Brig. Gen. Loree K. Sutton, and Fort Carson commander Maj. Gen. Mark A. Graham spoke with reporters, civilian health care providers and others Wednesday as part of an Army-sponsored Warrior Care Summit in Colorado Springs.

A 2007 scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center that revealed widespread medical neglect, coupled with a rash of soldier suicides and homicides, has led to major strides in how the military approaches health care.

Sutton described the Walter Reed revelation as a tragic "blessing."

"We're really good at the life-saving, white-knuckled, adrenaline-charged stuff," she said about the military's medical team.

But until recently, the military fell short when it came to taking care of soldiers coming off the battlefield or in need of longtime rehab.

This "cultural transformation," Sutton said, has changed medical protocols to place a greater focus on the "whole" soldier. Mental health, she said, is now taken as seriously as physical health. Her job title might serve as an example. She is the founding director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, a Defense Department organization charged exclusively with addressing the psychological needs of the military.

The changes aren't just at the top. Platoon leaders and medics, for example, are being trained to recognize signs of stress among their troops and to help those soldiers get help.

Army doctors and counselors have honed their questions to better identify conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. Fort Carson recently opened a center designed solely to help soldiers with traumatic brain injuries.

Yet such efforts are hampered by a tough-guy culture where words such as "stress" and "mental health" make people bristle. Graham said soldiers fear that if they seek psychological help, it might be seen as a sign of weakness and could jeopardize promotions or admission into selective programs.

Graham is a vocal advocate in addressing those stigmas. One of his two sons committed suicide, and the other died in combat in Iraq. And at Fort Carson, 14 soldiers were accused or convicted of homicides from 2005-08, he said.

"We take it very hard when a soldier goes downtown and does something horrific," he said. The question, he said: "How do we see that red flag?"

One of Sutton's strategies is a new $1.8 million public awareness campaign built largely on telling the stories of soldiers who sought help.

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, stigma, mental health, behavioral health, U.S. Army