Captain George Devlin of the Burlington Police Department, a Vietnam veteran himself, has recently started to teach a class at the Reading Police Academy. The class is designed to inform police officers about the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on returning veterans and to explain how police officers can interact with these veterans in a safe, informative and positive way.
According to the "Report of the Special Commission to Study and Investigate the Hidden Wounds of War on the Massachusetts Service Members" many soldiers are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with a multitude of problems, which if left untreated can result in more serious problems down the road.
Many veterans are returning home with symptoms of PTSD. Left untreated, depression, suicide and alcohol or drug abuse can result. Many experts in the field also believe that untreated PTSD can be a gateway to a life of crime and unemployment.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or an arduous ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme physical trauma. The stressors may involve someone’s actual death, a threat to the veteran's life or someone else’s life, serious physical injury, or a threat to physical and/or psychological integrity. These can affect one's normal psychological defenses and render them incapable of coping properly. Many returning combat veterans have been exposed to extreme circumstances involving death or serious injury to their fellow soldiers and they return home with mild to severe symptoms of PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD include persistent re-experiencing of the traumatic event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, emotional numbing, and symptoms of increased arousal.
PTSD is not a new phenomenon. Written accounts of symptoms similar to those associated with PTSD date back to ancient times. It was not until the Civil War that medical literature surrounding the symptoms associated with PTSD began to develop. Since that time, PTSD has been observed in all veteran populations dating back to World War I.
During the class, officers view a 15-minute film on the symptoms of PTSD. They also receive written materials, including a list of resources where veterans can seek help for PTSD and/or suicidal thoughts. The intent is to better equip officers to recognize specific signs of PTSD and to assist these veterans in seeking help.
Captain Devlin stresses to the officers that they will often be the first to respond to the homes of these veterans who are experiencing problems. With the training that officers receive, they will be better able to identify the symptoms and signs of PTSD/suicide and then refer the veteran to the local Veterans Administration Hospital or Center.
During the class, officers are reminded that their brief interaction with these veterans could literally make the difference between life and death.
Any veterans or family members who would like help or more information on the subject of suicide and PTSD are encouraged to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at their toll-free number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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