Circle of Healing | An Holistic Approach to Health in the Mettawee Valley of Southwestern Vermont

We received the following words of encouragement from Senator Bernie Sanders, which we’d like to share:

Dear Mr. Cratty:

Thank you very much for your willingness to provide free care to victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan . I have forwarded on your letter to Gary DeGasta, the Director of White River Junction VA Medical Center.

I share your concern about the mental health of our soldiers and am acutely aware of the prevalence of PTSD amongst our service members - a condition that can tear apart the lives of battle-hardened veterans and their families.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been the most prevalent mental disorder among returning service members. A Defense Department study of combat troops returning from Iraq found 1 in 6 soldiers and Marines acknowledged symptoms of severe depression and PTSD, and 6 in 10 of these same veterans were unlikely to seek help out of fear it would hurt their military careers.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur from experiencing or witnessing traumatic or life-threatening events. In Iraq , these types of events take place almost daily in the form of intense urban street fighting, civilian combatants and terrorism. As a result, many of our soldiers are at risk for PTSD, whose symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive recollections, detachment from other people, and hyper-arousal. PTSD is a condition that can take years to reveal itself, and in the process destroy the lives of veterans and their families.

Unfortunately, this Administration has not done enough to meet the increased demand for PTSD services as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan . There have been several reports indicating soldiers are being discouraged from seeking mental health care, and that the level of care afforded troops and their families has been poor. In addition, some reports have indicated that service members with PTSD are being misdiagnosed with personality disorder, in order to deny them their disability benefits and much-needed mental health care.

I believe that we have a moral responsibility to make sure that when our troops come home they and their families get all of the care they need. That means we need to improve mental health care services for veterans with PTSD and find out whether there is a concerted effort by the Department of Defense (DoD) to discharge soldiers from the military health system.

To that end, I recently joined nine of my colleagues in writing a letter to the General Accounting Office (GAO) requesting an investigation into allegations that the Defense Department is giving soldiers inaccurate mental health ratings so as to reduce or eliminate the amount of benefits they receive from the military and the VA. Specifically, it would require a review of DoD screenings, diagnoses, referrals and treatment of service members who may have PTSD and other mental health conditions related to their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I am also proud to be an original co-sponsor of the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007 (S. 713) introduced by Senator Obama.

This bill would reverse many of the Bush Administration’s failures regarding veterans’ health care with an emphasis on improving care to those veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD. It would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a comprehensive plan, establish two centers of excellence and authorize $50 million all geared toward improving TBI and PTSD prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

As a longstanding advocate for our nation’s veterans, I have consistently fought to improve the care and benefits received by not only service members, but their families as well. I strongly believe that if a man or woman is willing to put his or her life on the line in defense of this country, the government has a solemn duty to provide the best possible healthcare and benefits to them.

Again, thank you for offering your services free of charge to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Feel free to follow up with Mr. DeGasta directly at the following address:

Gary DeGasta, Director
White River Junction VA Medical Center
215 North Main St
White River Junction , VT 05009

Sincerely,

BERNARD SANDERS
United States Senator