FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com APRIL 9, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 21 Jamaica Hospital combating tHe stigma of ptsD in Veterans April 2, 2015 (Jamaica, NY) — Memoirs of veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have widely become a topic of discussion due in part to their depictions in recent films. While we are able to witness their accounts of PTSD for a few hours, many veterans have to live with the reality of this debilitating disorder for a lifetime. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of veterans suffer from combat- related mental illnesses but only 23-40% seek professional help, because mental illness is sadly and often stigmatized. In an effort to combat this stigma The Psychiatric Department of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in conjunction with the New York State Psychiatric Association and the Queens District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association hosted the Veteran’s Mental Health Primary Care Training Initiative on April 2nd. The event educated health care professionals on the best practices for treating mental disorders such as PTSD and traumatic brain injuries linked to PTSD among returning combat veterans. Additionally the department of psychiatry used the event as a platform to bring attention to the increasing rates of substance abuse and suicide among veterans. The negative perceptions associated with mental illness can sometimes lead veterans to believe that they are weak or should be ashamed of seeking professional help. In order to cope with the complications of mental illness, some veterans may self-medicate by using alcohol or narcotics and in extreme cases commit suicide. Jamaica Hospital is dedicated in building programs to increase awareness of these disorders and heighten sensitivity when treating veterans. Several staff members of the hospital such as Dr. Richard Pinsker, are also veterans and believe the training initiative was vital. “Attitudes towards PTSD and other mental illnesses are shifting in a positive direction; many are recognizing that the emotional and mental wounds can be as detrimental to our vets as the physical,” said Pinsker. He continues, “Veterans are very appreciative when others take the time to care.” Get * up to Bonus
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