Posted on Jun 24, 2016
What are your experiences with Behavioral Health?
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Responses: 10
I think it's become more than it was ever intended to be. Allow me to explain:
Going to Behavioral Health now comes with a very negative stigma. While seeking the help you need is something that should be appreciated and understood, it comes with this idea that the servicemember is "damaged" or "broken." I literally watched a co-worker of mine at my last unit be called a "tiny-hearted piece of sh*t" because he was seeking help for his depression.
Add this to the fact that the clinics are rapidly becoming over-booked and sparsely manned, and the service is suffering for it. I was in therapy for my sleep issues, and it got to the point that I was lucky to see my provider once a month. The service was no longer effective, and so I stopped going.
Often, I was mocked and ridiculed for going, again pointing to the negative stigma attached to Behavioral Health.
When it is functional and productive, the it is a great service. But it is rapidly deteriorating.
Going to Behavioral Health now comes with a very negative stigma. While seeking the help you need is something that should be appreciated and understood, it comes with this idea that the servicemember is "damaged" or "broken." I literally watched a co-worker of mine at my last unit be called a "tiny-hearted piece of sh*t" because he was seeking help for his depression.
Add this to the fact that the clinics are rapidly becoming over-booked and sparsely manned, and the service is suffering for it. I was in therapy for my sleep issues, and it got to the point that I was lucky to see my provider once a month. The service was no longer effective, and so I stopped going.
Often, I was mocked and ridiculed for going, again pointing to the negative stigma attached to Behavioral Health.
When it is functional and productive, the it is a great service. But it is rapidly deteriorating.
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I'm sorry to hear that it was so rough for you. Staffing is definitely an issue. I myself saw BH for 6 months when I was in Korea, and my experience was a positive one, but that doesn't speak to the whole Army. I appreciate your input!
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never went ad because our combat stress clinic got shot up in iraq, my only experience was va, at first they kept me on meds and nothing else, when life around me fell apart divorce, alcohol abuse and legal troubles thats when oh we need to help you
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Thanks for the input! I'm collecting as much info as I can to help make BH an environment that produces good results in terms of overall wellness with soldiers.
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I benefited from their services and would recommend that those who need help get help!!!! Forget a stigma....I'll proudly tell my CoC that I'm going to BH!!! Stigmatize me all you want, but imma get this stuff of my chest!!
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