Children of Military Families

This is to be streamed live on Thursday, 9.24.09, at noon to two pm, 12:00 to 2:00pm pt.

Children of Military Families -- Helping Them Cope With Deployment and Trauma - UCTV

University of California Television provides informational, educational, and enrichment television programming to the public and draws upon the vast intellectual, scientific, and creative talents of the University of California.

Dr. Lieberman will explore in depth the considerable impacts on children of various ages at all stages of deployment, especially reintegration. She will explore how we can support and encourage their well being and resilience and the health of their parents and families.

Join us in person or online for this informative 2 hour training on a matter of crucial importance for all mental health professionals and all those serving our military families.

Roxana Saberi Released!!! {UpDated: More Breaking News at time}

This UpDate has nothing to do with the release but it's just hitting:

With the Good comes the Really Bad!

Fragging!!

Another Deja-Vu 'Nam Hits the Present Occupations!!!

U.S. service member kills 4 fellow troops in Iraq - GI in custody after killing 5 at Iraq ‘stress clinic’
Contrary to earlier reports, military says soldier did not kill self after attack



With a Report from McClatchy on the shooting

The Original News On Roxana

UpDate2
According to Agenzia Giornalistica Italia with this:

IRAN: JOURNALIST ROXANA SABERI RELEASED

AGI) - Teheran, 11 May - Roxana Saberi has been released.

AGI had a report up about an hour ago that she to be released in a couple of hours, the one above is the second one, the most recent!

And This just posted:
Saberi's Free: Are U.S.-Iranian Relations Truly Thawing?

5min. ago: Lawyer: US reporter leaves jail in Iran

Abdolsamad Khorramshahi says Roxana Saberi is "now out of jail."

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Just heard a quick report on NPR that her father is traveling to Iran to be there when she is released to bring her home!!

UpDate 3:

From the BBC: Fathers joy at Saberi release with Video link!

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U.S. Reporter Jailed in Iran to Soon Be Freed

An Iranian appeals court reduced the eight-year jail sentence for Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi on Monday to a suspended two-year term and she will soon be freed, her defense lawyer told Reuters.

Here's one from the Times Online with a bit more meat in the report than the real quick blurb.

UpDate:

Iranian authorities have released freelance journalist Roxana Saberi after a court reduced her sentence to a two-year suspended term.
Roxana Saberi released from Tehran jail

Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, who has been convicted of involvement in acts of espionage, has been released from Tehran's Evin prison.

The release came just one day after a Tehran court of appeals reduced her eight-year jail sentence to a two-year suspended term, Press TV's correspondent reported on Monday.

Saberi, 32, is a freelance journalist who was initially detained in late January for working in Iran after her press credentials had expired.

She was later sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of spying for the government of the United States.

However, earlier on Sunday Saberi's lawyer expressed optimism about the verdict after her case was heard in a Tehran court of appeals.........

Record High Army Suicides Prompt Action : NPR

A U.S. soldier is now more likely than a civilian to take his own life, and the situation is getting worse, not better. To combat suicides, the Army is taking new steps, such as using an interactive video game in which soldiers role play with an imaginary buddy in crisis. >>>>>Rest Here {along with the audio feed}

Or click this link to bring up their player.

There was another recent report about even civilian workers on military bases have numbers of suicides on the rise, the military structure is broken, the stress, across the board, is extremely high!

And this recent video report:

Military Suicides at a 30-Year High


Study: Communities must do more for vets

If local organizations do not reach out proactively to the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments to become more engaged in treating the veterans returning to their communities, they can expect the veterans’ pain to affect their families, their ability to contribute to society, and even their ability to care for themselves, said Audrey Burnam, senior behavioral scientist at the Rand Corp. think tank.

Burnam said vets returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq represent a “historic opportunity” for communities to learn more about PTSD, educate others about the illness and come together to deal with it.

Burnam, who spoke at a Health Affairs Journal panel May 5 in Washington, is the lead author of a new Rand report, “Mental Health Care for Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans,” that makes a case for a broad reform of services that looks beyond VA.

A Full List From Rand

Military Suicides: Senate Hearing 3.18.09

DoD Addressing Military Suicides

Chairman Ben Nelson (D-NE) is holding a Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcmte. hearing examining suicide prevention programs in each of the armed services. Defense Dept. representatives are discussing areas for improvement of access to mental health care and other initiatives that might help reduce military suicides.

This will bring up their Video Page of the Hearing

PTSD Combat: Rising Tide

2008 OEF/OIF Veteran Suicides 28% of Army, Marine Casualties; Jan '09 Army Suicides May Surpass Month's KIA Count

The continued rise of OEF/OIF veteran suicides reported by the military over the past weeks isn't very surprising news for longtime followers of this issue; but, it's no less alarming.

Read the Rest at: Ilona Meagher's; PTSD Commbat: Winning the War Within

That Feeling of 'Aliveness' Combat Veterans Miss Most:

Ilona Meagher, of PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within, shares with us, from her Blogspot, the writings of another blogger, a Combat Veteran, Scott Lee, a Gulf War I Veteran , who writes about his experiences with PTS and returning to civilian life after the military and combat experiences and more.

Can it Be Recaptured in Ho-Hum Civilian Life?

A powerful post by Scott Lee, a Gulf War veteran who blogs over at PTSD, A Soldier's Perspective, arrived on Friday. We Cannot Make it Through the Confines of Our Minds Without the Help of Others is so full and rich and speaks entirely to my current research that I hope he doesn't mind my reprinting it here to share with you:

I am a Gulf War I vet, I felt the same as you when I returned home from combat. For me it was the total sense of feeling alive and being a part of my squad that I missed, although I did not figure this out until after 15 years of insanity.

Ilona commented at his blog on the post, just above, by Scott, the one in the blockquotes, and it seems they are both sharing their thoughts on each others blogs for all. Ilona's is above and Scott has this Some Insights From Ilona Meagher on Presence of Mind posted at his.

The more I write here, the more blessings God gives me. Lately I have been talking with people on the national scene, some of the leading PTSD advocates. A high profile PTSD lawyer, some of the leading proponents in the veterans court movement, and authors. Such as the veteran blogger of PTSD: Winning the War Within, Ilona Meagher, who had commented on one of my latest articles. Additionally, Ilona has authored Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops. I do not think that she will mind me dropping her name (I hope).

You will find both writings informative and open.

As Ilona points out you really should read what other thoughts Scott has put out for all to read and learn from, especially for those who've never experienced the Military and especially engaging in what you train for actual Conflicts and Occupations. But it, as any writings and research about PTS, will also inform and bring to light the suffering many go through after their own traumatic experiences in their lives, PTS is not only related to Combat, War and Occupations, for the soldiers or the civilians of!

Here's a few links to Scott's recent writings:

Structural Dissociation of the Personality

Not One, But Two Stars Died to Make You

Dissociation, Fructose, Insomnia & Escape

Visit and read more of Scott's writings and thoughts at PTSD, A Soldiers Perspective

Another Reason for Presidential Military Townhall

Witnesses to War



When the separation ends! CNN Video

CNN's Rick Sanchez talks with Dr. Paul Ragan about the effects of war on soldiers and the high price they pay for it.

After the centuries and than finally after 'Nam and still way too many just don't get it, as to combat soldiers and those living in combat theaters!

Walter Reed and Beyond - 1st Lt Elizabeth Whiteside, Now In Lockdown

The following is a Video report from CBS as a Lead In to a Report, now online but to be printed in tomorrows Washington Post from Dana Priest.


A Soldier's Cry For Help - CBS News Video


This is the Washington Post report:

Suicide Try Spotlights a Trend

Soldier facing charges for trying to kill herself last year attempts suicide again, one of a record number who have tried or succeeded in ending their lives after serving in Iraq, Afghanistan.

{The report, at the Washington Post, is now taking a long time to come up, had it once but now it's a real slow load.}

Walter Reed and Beyond

A Patient Prosecuted

Army 1st Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside's story is emblematic of the military's ambivalence when it comes to soldiers who need mental health care.

Narrated Slideshow: Lt. Whiteside's Story