I would like to pose a question to all of our members. This may be a sensitive topic/discussion so I will ask that you try to maintain a level of respect and adult ness while commenting. Please participate by stating your thoughts and/or opinions, but remember to use kindness and compassion whilst considering the comments of others. Remember, opinions are like ass holes, everyone's got one, so there's no need to be one.
As per statistical trend would scale it, there has been an increase in the amount of post/base shootings and similar dangerous situations in the last handful of years. After the most recent shooting at Ft. Hood, I can't help but wonder... What is "causing" these shootings? Obviously, yes there is a person behind them but the reasons why often go unexplained or unexamined. And in addition, why they are continuing to grow in number? What do you believe should be done about it to ensure post/base safety and the safety of our military members, their civilian families, and civilians not connected to the military at all?
Below you shall first find my personal opinion on the matter along with a few quips from my test group on the topic:
Kailene: Military personnel who are home and have passed the initial mental health screening required upon redeployment, go off into the great world, passed on by mental health officials after a brief session with that personnel and they are deemed fit for duty - no questions asked. They passed. They're good to go. No questions asked. I know this to be true (at least to a point) from the experience I had with my ex husband upon his redeployment from Iraq. Now. This redeployment mental screening, I t's not very extensive, I'm afraid, and incredibly easy to lie though. I believe what may be required to ensure the safety and improvement of overall mental health for our service members is: better counselors, and more of them. Per military personel there's about a 1:300 ratio for counselors, and that's the BEST number I've seen, of course I am sure there are better ratio numbers OUT there, however I have not encountered them and thus cannot include them in my opinion. One counselor cannot efficiently council 300 people all at once. It's just not possible. As a counseling student heading into graduate school for counseling psychology, I know for a fact that in order for the DOD to provide adequate service in the mental health field to our service members, the level of counseling needs to be brought down to a more personal level, more integrated with platoon and family sessions alike, along with private sessions. I also believe that there should be a... Let's say three month check up for every member for an extended period of time until full clearance can be reached. Obviously this is not verbatim as I am still in my learning stages, but I believe it can be on the right track, because the system that is in place now is clearly not working.
Opinions from Test Group: all are military connected and have educated opinions.
I think soldiers should be made to pass mental health screenings after coming home from deployment.
Part of me believes that these people get too scared to kill themselves so they decide to so something fucking crazy so someone else will kill them.
A project getting more soldiers more counselors would be something I could totally stand behind and support. I see way too many service members who are seeing overworked or not the best counselors acting in self destructive behavior then lying through their meetings or telling the counselor and the counselor acting like a buddy to them and egging them on.
If anything let this post act as a "food for thought" - changes will most likely not be made unless we, the people, demand that there be a difference made in the mental health services provided to our service members.
Love for all,
Kailene