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By Charlene Rubush, March 30, 2010 10:46 pm

Part Two:

Dr. Judith Broder established “The Soldiers Project” in order to help combat veterans and their families. Concerned about the enormous stigma attached to getting psychological help, especially in the military, she wanted to provide an alternative. Of the masses of returning combat vets afflicted with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, she notes, “These people are not mentally ill, they are just reacting to extremely abnormal situations.”

Recent studies underscore the need for these services. In 2008, the RAND Center for Military Health Policy reported that nearly 20 percent of veterans, 300,000 in all, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001, report symptoms of PTSD or major depression. And a 2009 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) study reports a threefold increase in depression and post-traumatic stress after repeat combat duty.

Volunteers involved with “The Soldiers Project” receive specialized training in depression, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. They are all licensed in various fields, such as psychiatry, social work, nursing, psychology, marriage and family therapy, and must participate in ongoing training on topics such as deployment, homecoming, re-entry into civilian life, domestic violence and therapeutic approaches, among others.

The project also helps those who aren’t eligible for services through the military or VA, including extended family members as well as gay, lesbian and heterosexual unmarried partners. The Soldiers Project’s services are confidential, eliminating concern that treatment would appear on military records and affect careers. Continue reading 'The Soldiers Project Provides A Safety Net For Those Who Would Rather Not Use VA Mental Health Services'»