Now it has been announced that American troops returning from combat will be required to submit to be interviewed by counsellors to help them with issues of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other depressive symptoms. Currently there are no laws in place that can force soldiers to expose their feelings, but officials said the program has the potential to save many lives.
The idea was in a bill that was introduced earlier this year by U.S. Representative Harry Teague, D-N.M., and was then signed into law very recently by President Barack Obama. It is estimated that the cost of the program up to 2014 will be around $45 million. It is a perfect way to deal with the so-called ‘unseen wounds’ of soldiers returning from war.
It is hoped that the program will have the ability to remove much of the stigma that surrounds mental health in the military. For too long it has simply been assumed that soldiers coming home from active duty should just deal with their problems on their own terms. Of course, there’s no reason that soldiers shouldn’t deal with mental health issues, but often it’s the soldiers themselves that deny the opportunity for help.
It’s hoped that troops will be able to open up which will help doctors and counsellors to deal with their problems in case they become a danger to themselves or others.