More than 60 percent of troops who believe they have post-traumatic stress are not seeking treatment through the military, according to spouses surveyed in a recently released report. The nonprofit Blue Star Families found that only 35 percent of servicemembers displaying symptoms of PTS sought military medical treatment," while others "sought civilian treatment or ignored their symptoms." Such fears were compounded by the belief that soldiers seeking treatment are not able to do so privately. Eighty-six percent of family members said that "lack of confidentiality" led soldiers to avoid treatment. Fifty-eight percent ignored the symptoms that their families had observed. The report is available online and at www.bluestarfam.org/Policy/Surveys/Survey_2012.
For more military family resources and support programs, visit the Military.com Spouse and Family Center.
