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In the 1st installment of our 3-part series on the mental health of our troops, we discussed the need for pre-enlistment psychological evaluations to prevent future mental health concerns that could potentially lead to mental disability later on in life. When mental health is affected in the long-term, it may be necessary to work with a Florida VA disability attorney to fight for your full rights to benefits.
Our series continues with concerns about how psychological health is evaluated and maintained during deployment. The Rolling Stone article we have been referencing reported stories of missed signs of the degradation of the mental health of the members of Bravo Company's 3rd Platoon.
The Tragic Results When Mental Health Concerns are Overlooked
One of the central figures in the killings, 3rd Platoon's squad leader Calvin Gibbs, was described by some as a "crazed killer with a pure hatred for all Afghans" while others said he was an "upbeat guy, very funny" and that he was well-liked and competent in his duties. Gibbs became involved with the 3rd Platoon at a time when morale was low and soldiers were bored. He had begun to show signs of extreme violence and pride in his kill record, and began to promote pleasure in killing insurgents among the platoon members.
Mental evaluations of these behaviors were few and far between, if performed at all. Alyssa Reilly, a medic who treated two military members connected with civilian kills, said the men bragged about the incident during the exam and later during a card game. Not only did the incident go unreported, but the men were never questioned on their mental well-being after they began circulating their gruesome tales.
Substance abuse contributed to the incidents taking place during these killings. Hashish was commonly used after the kills as the men sat around discussing the attack, and other drugs such as opium, Ambien, codeine, and phenergan were sometimes found.
The full story of the "kill team" began to unfurl as more incidents happened - staged kills, severed fingers as trophies, stoned bragging parties in the barracks. Finally, the issue came to a head when Pfc. Justin Stoner spoke about the dangerous behaviors while being treated for a beating the other men inflicted upon him to keep his mouth shut.
Investigations have been going on for nearly a year now without much in the matter of punishment, demotion, or consequence for those involved. Possibly the most disturbing factor of the interviews conducted on many of the men involved is the nonchalant attitudes they displayed toward their actions in the field.
Evaluating Mental Health Risks During Active Duty
The Army is slowly learning that providing access to mental health evaluation and care during deployment is the key to reducing the risk of mental disability in the future. Conditions such as PTSD and increases in suicide risk have dropped in soldiers who were provided care during deployment.
Some brigade combat teams have been assigned active-duty behavioral health professionals to not only provide mental healthcare during deployment, but also help alleviate some of the stigma associated with seeking psychological care. It is often this aversion to seeking treatment for mental health that allows many soldiers to develop a mental disability.
Pre-deployment screening for mental disability is also critical to determining if a soldier is psychologically fit for active duty or not. Those who underwent the pre-deployment screening and care had lower rates of combat stress reactions, needed less treatment for behavioral health issues, and had less suicidal thoughts and feelings during their deployment.
Mental disability is among one of the chief conditions that many veterans suffer upon their return from active duty. Unfortunately, behavioral issues and mental health are often overlooked when it comes to evaluating disabling conditions eligible for veterans' disability benefits. If you or a loved one is experiencing difficulty with psychological damage suffered during military service, a Florida VA disability attorney can advocate for your rights.
Contacting a Florida VA Disability Attorney
Filing for veterans' disability benefits is complicated and time-consuming, but at LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A., our Florida VA disability attorney team is ready for the challenge. We like to empower our clients by providing a FREE veterans' disability guide so you can learn more about the process of filing for veterans' disability benefits. When you're ready to get started, contact The Law Offices of LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A. to begin your claim. Our state-of-the-art, customized intake and database system means less hassle, so you can focus on what's most important to you instead of having to spend your days wading through confusing legalese and legal red tape. Call today - 1-888-234-5758.