Psych Help and Hotline for Military Personnel
The Department of Defense created the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury in 2007 to help the third of service members with psych and brain injury issues. A new 24-hour toll-free hotline number is (866) 966-1020. Steve Mirsky reports
SUBSCRIBE TO Science Quickly
[The following is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
Nearly 20 percent of servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan report symptoms of post-traumatic stress or major depression. Another 19 percent experience possible traumatic brain injury. Some seven percent may have a combination of brain injury and depression or PTSD. That’s according to a RAND Corporation study.
To address these issues, in 2007 the Department of Defense created the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. The center’s director is Brigadier General Loree Sutton, a board certified psychiatrist. The centers recently established a 24-hour toll-free hotline number, (866) 966-1020.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
General Sutton calls the centers, “America’s open door to welcome and help every person dealing with psychological health issues and traumatic brain injury.” The hotline is also available to family members, healthcare professionals, teachers and anyone else dealing with a service member who may be experiencing psychological issues. Because the real shame is not seeking help. (866) 966-1020.
—Steve Mirsky
60-Second Science is a daily podcast. Subscribe to this Podcast:
RSS | iTunes
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
