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Posted: 11:11 AM Aug 21, 2009
Suicide Message Hits Home For Army General
An Army major general who has lost two sons -- one of them to suicide -- says the military needs to do more to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
Reporter: Associated Press |
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An Army major general who has lost two sons -- one of them to suicide -- says the military needs to do more to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
Maj. Gen. Mark Graham and his wife, Carol, were keynote speakers at a suicide prevention conference attended by hundreds Friday at the Frankfort Convention Center.
Months before their older son Jeffrey was killed in Iraq, their younger son, Kevin, hanged himself when he was an ROTC cadet at the University of Kentucky.
The Grahams have successfully pushed several changes, particularly in the military and Fort Carson. They say recruits now are given a card when they enter training, telling them what steps to take if they believe they are depressed.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Latest Comments
Posted by: D
Location: 80910
on Aug 21, 2009 at 06:50 PM
I agree with R. The Army doesnt really care about things like this. I have been in for 4 years now and I have seen soldiers go get help then get made fun of or picked on when they return. I had to take away a weapon from a soldier while we were in Iraq due to the mental stress our chain of command was putting on us. And he got made fun of. There isnt really any help that they can get other than friends and family.
Posted by: R
Location: C
on Aug 21, 2009 at 01:52 PM
Let me tell you something, I am currently at Camp Liberty Iraq. Been here for 7 months now and I've learned that the Army does not care about suicide or mental health issues. The only reason they (Army) have a PTSD clinic or mental health doctors is for the sake of saying "we care about our soldiers" blah blah blah. A suicide is one less weak link they have to deal with. I myself have not had to go to mental health but I know soldiers who have and when they do, there ARE repercussions and it starts at platoon level. Those soldiers are identified in the platoon so the other soldiers can properly motivate the individual to get with the program. The best medicine for a soldier deployed as far as mental health goes, it's not any Army program or health clinic, it's that soldier next to you who you call "friend".
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