U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill questioned the vice chiefs of the military's four branches yesterday on how they plan to improve mental health services and stop the growing number of soldier suicides.
"Our heroes need not just the protective armor of the battle field,"
McCaskill said during the hearing. "They need the availability of help
when they need it."
During the hearing, McCaskill pointed out the lack of availability of confidential mental health treatment. This leads some soldiers to forgo treatment for fear of
hurting their careers. She also noted the shortage of counselors and the need for embedded counselors with
National Guard and reserve units.
Missouri has one of the
highest rates of suicides in the National Guard.
"We've lost five members of the National Guard in Missouri already
this year to suicide," McCaskill said. "That is unacceptable."
Here's
video of McCaskill questioning General Peter Chiarelli of the
U.S. Army.
In August 2009, ex-Pitch writer Carolyn Szczepanksi wrote
about the growing
number of suicides by soldiers returning home from war.
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THE MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD LEADERSHIP ARE THE COMMAND AND CONTROL AFFECTING THE SOLDIERS. BELIEVE ME I AM ONE OF THEM. BUT I AM NOT GOING TO LET THEM WIN THIS BATTLE. SO, SINCE THEY TOOK AWAY MY PURPOSE - THEY ONLY GAVE ME A NEW ONE. PURPOSE THAT IS. AFTER ALL I AM A SOLDIER. RIGHT? SO, SOLDIERS ARE SUPPOSE TO GO TO BATTLE WHEN SOMETHING IS THE CAUSE OF TRAGEDY. DONT LET THESE PEOPLE FOOL YOU. THEY ARE BAD NEWS.
THINK ABOUT IT. MISSOURI HAS THE MOST SOLDIERS WHOM HAVE TAKEN THEIR OWN LIVES.
ANYONE EVER THINK THAT MAYBE THEIRS SOMETHING THAT DOESNT MEET THE EYE?
OBVIOUSLY, THESE SOLDIERS WERE VICTIMS. THEY WHERE BEING ABUSED. I MEAN SERIOUSLY, SOLDIERS ARE WARRIORS, THEY DONT DIE FOR NOTHING.
SOLDIERS DONT DIE FOR NOTHING.
WE ARE AT WAR WITH BAD LEADERSHIP.
SOLDIERS ONLY DIE IN BATTLE.
SOMETHING, SOMEONE OR SOMEONES HAVE A HIDDEN TRIGGER AFFECT ON THESE SOLDIERS.
TRUST ME. I HAVE TO LIVE- I HAVE TO PROVIDE THE INTEL ON THESE PEOPLE.
EMAIL ME: LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED.
armyprincess4200@yahoo.com
I AM READY. ARE YOU?
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