CombatCounselor Describes War-Induced Stress On Kansas City TV Station KMBC

An experienced combat veteran, retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, and expert in working with military and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Chris Sorrentino, a licensed professional counselor, Executive Director of Kansas City Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and President of Help4VetsPTSD, a non-profit dedicated to military and veterans with PTSD, discusses combat stress with ABC News affiliate:

Counselor Describes War-Induced Stress - Kansas City News Story - KMBC Kansas City

Sorrentino went on to describe his sorrow for the families of the 16 Afghanis allegedly killed by a US solider and for the soldier's family.  "My heart and prayers go out to the families of the victims, the soldier, and the Afghani people for their unimaginable losses" Sorrentino told Maria Antonia via Skype this afternoon.  LtCol Sorrentino happened to be out of the area at the time, working with re-deploying soldiers at an undisclosed location.

"The military is a microcosm of American society", Sorrentino added, stating: "and the extremely unfortunate events that occurred in Panjwai district, a rural suburb of Kandahar and a traditional Taliban stronghold, are not at all indicative of the behavior of our brave, dedicated, selfless military personnel and should be considered an isolated event". Our deployed military are heroes and this incident should not reflect negatively on them in any way.  It is understandable and warranted for the Afghan people to be horrified and upset about the attack, just as many American are, and justice will be served as the soldier's fate is determined in a court of law.

The facts have yet to be determined, but Sorrentino concluded "the negative stigma attached to mental health treatment in the military has existed for decades and will not, unfortunately, end anytime soon".  "If the attacks were related to combat-related stress or other psychological issues, an environment more conducive to military members seeking treatment, rather than fearing reprisal or loss of a security clearance, could have potentially mitigated this threat ".  LtCol Sorrentino asked President Obama to "end the negative stigma associated with military mental health care" in a question and answer session after January's State of the Union Address.  Unfortunately, Obama ignored Colonel Sorrentino's pleas and failed to respond to his question.

Title: CombatCounselor Describes War-Induced Stress On Kansas City TV Station KMBC

Key Words:  KMBC, TV, Kansas City, MO, MIsouri, combatcounselor, combat, counselor, war, induced, stress, PTSD. PTS, trauma, disorder, television, 

PETITION TO PRESIDENT OBAMA - END THE NEGATIVE STIGMAS AGAINST PTSD AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN THE MILITARY BEFORE ONE MORE HERO COMMITS SUICIDE!

PETITION TO PRESIDENT OBAMA - END THE NEGATIVE STIGMAS AGAINST PTSD AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN THE MILITARY BEFORE ONE MORE HERO COMMITS SUICIDE!

You can read my recent article on this issue elsewhere in The CombatCounselor Chronicle if you require additional information:

http://combatcounselor.blogspot.com/2012/12/article-stigmas-killing-american-heroes.html

PLEASE SIGN MY PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT! We need 150 signatures JUST TO GET THE PETITION SEEN ON THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE and 25,000 signatures before January 10th, 2013 ... THAT'S ONLY 30 DAYS ... in order for President Obama to take action.

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AND CREATE AN ACCOUNT (It's easy - only email address, first and last name), then return to The White House site and SIGN THIS PETITION!

Petition:

"On average, 1 military member and 18 Veterans commit suicide each day and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant factor in many of those deaths. The negative stigma surrounding PTSD and military mental health treatment exist because military members are hesitant to seek treatment from military practitioners, fearing the loss of their career and/or security clearance. We need leaders who are willing to give our men and women in uniform the confidentiality they need when seeking treatment for their problems, be it PTSD, depression, anxiety, or other disorder. We need leaders who are going to do the right thing and end the negative stigmas against PTSD and seeking mental health treatment in the military now, today, before one more American hero dies by his or her own hand!"

PLEASE SEND TO EVERY VETERAN, MILITARY MEMBER, AND AMERICAN PATRIOT YOU KNOW ... 25,000 SIGNATURES IN 30 DAYS ... LET'S DO IT!

Please click on this link and SIGN THE PETITION NOW!

White House Petition - End The Stigmas!

Help4VetsPTSD Unfunded...Again

August 23rd, 2012 - Kansas City, MO: Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Chris Sorrentino, President and Executive Director of Help4VetsPTSD, made an announcement at Help4VetsPTSD's semi-annual board meeting last night, commenting on the disappointment he felt upon hearing the bad news about another grant lost: "We have a great organization that is just starting out and in desperate need of funding. Our mission, to help military and veterans (and their families) with PTSD, is critical and can actually SAVE LIVES! I do not understand how 'quality of life' programs can be funded over such a noble cause as ours, a program that CAN SAVE LIVES!".

On average, one military member and 18 veterans commit suicide EACH AND EVERY DAY, and PTSD is a significant factor in many. Sorrentino added: "Every day we go unfunded, another 19 lives are lost and that is absolutely appalling! The military and VA cannot keep up with demand and there are a shortage of trained, qualified therapists in the private sector. Help4VetsPTSD can help alleviate some of the suffering and many senseless suicides committed by over 6,900 of our military and veterans EVERY year...senseless!"

We as a nation waste billions on political campaigns, needless spending, and luxuries each year while many of our nation's heroes go jobless, homeless, with no mental health treatment, and ALMOST 7,000 of them choose to end their lives...7,000 MILITARY AND VETERANS COMMIT SUICIDE EVERY YEAR!

Stop the insanity! Help end the negative mental health stigma in the military and among veterans, leading directly or indirectly to joblessness, homelessness, and suicide.

PLEASE DONATE TO Help4VetsPTSD TODAY...EVERY DAY YOU WAIT, 20 HEROES DIE!

Visit http://www.Help4VetsPTSD.org for details.

You can follow them on Twitter @Help4VetsPTSD or "LIKE" their Facebook page


Help4VetsPTSD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit (pending) and donations are tax deductible.

Help4VetsPTSD Not Selected for Newman's Own Grant for Second year in a Row

August 10th, 2012 - Kansas City, Missouri: Vicki Reeping of Newman's Own and Fisher House Foundation announced that Help4VetsPTSD was unsuccessful for the second year in a row, not being selected for a grant they so desperately need.

Ms. Reeping stated: "We received 164 eligible programs this year, displaying a broad range of ideas to improve the quality of life for service members, Veterans, and their families. The judges had a difficult time narrowing it down, but have made their selections. The 6 programs recognized in 2012 will be posted on the Fisher House website on September 20, 2012....We wish you all success in your current efforts to support our Nation's heroes.

According to their website, Newman's Own Grant winners are chosen based on" potential impact on their respective communities, creativity, and innovation" and ability to "improve the quality of life for service members, Veterans, and their families." Six "civilian" judges, four female and two male, made the final decisions, decisions reflected in the charities chosen for the grants: 

CombatCounselor Describes War-Induced Stress On Kansas City TV Station KMBC

An experienced combat veteran, retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, and expert in working with military and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Chris Sorrentino, a licensed professional counselor, Executive Director of Kansas City Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and President of Help4VetsPTSD, a non-profit dedicated to military and veterans with PTSD, discusses combat stress with ABC News affiliate:

Counselor Describes War-Induced Stress - Kansas City News Story - KMBC Kansas City

Sorrentino went on to describe his sorrow for the families of the 16 Afghanis allegedly killed by a US solider and for the soldier's family.  "My heart and prayers go out to the families of the victims, the soldier, and the Afghani people for their unimaginable losses" Sorrentino told Maria Antonia via Skype this afternoon.  LtCol Sorrentino happened to be out of the area at the time, working with re-deploying soldiers at an undisclosed location.

"The military is a microcosm of American society", Sorrentino added, stating: "and the extremely unfortunate events that occurred in Panjwai district, a rural suburb of Kandahar and a traditional Taliban stronghold, are not at all indicative of the behavior of our brave, dedicated, selfless military personnel and should be considered an isolated event". Our deployed military are heroes and this incident should not reflect negatively on them in any way.  It is understandable and warranted for the Afghan people to be horrified and upset about the attack, just as many American are, and justice will be served as the soldier's fate is determined in a court of law.

The facts have yet to be determined, but Sorrentino concluded "the negative stigma attached to mental health treatment in the military has existed for decades and will not, unfortunately, end anytime soon".  "If the attacks were related to combat-related stress or other psychological issues, an environment more conducive to military members seeking treatment, rather than fearing reprisal or loss of a security clearance, could have potentially mitigated this threat ".  LtCol Sorrentino asked President Obama to "end the negative stigma associated with military mental health care" in a question and answer session after January's State of the Union Address.  Unfortunately, Obama ignored Colonel Sorrentino's pleas and failed to respond to his question.

Title: CombatCounselor Describes War-Induced Stress On Kansas City TV Station KMBC

Key Words:  KMBC, TV, Kansas City, MO, MIsouri, combatcounselor, combat, counselor, war, induced, stress, PTSD. PTS, trauma, disorder, television,