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GAO: Shortfalls in tracking mental health discharges
This is a very interesting story. Could this be an issue with some of the suicide rate?
This is a very interesting story. Could this be an issue with some of the suicide rate?
GAO: Shortfalls in tracking mental health discharges
Posted from armytimes.com
Discharge
Health
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
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The DD214 is essentially a "Public" document. Every employer we ever have in the future will want to see it. Although we can just provide the short form (which doesn't have our codes on it), the fear of "stigma" is actually pretty valid, since it can easily be looked up, and the layperson has no idea what those specific categories actually mean.
Seeing "mental health discharge" could be a potential red flag for an employer, and result in discrimination.
As for Suicide rate, I think our issue is more complex than that. Keep in mind all veterans, regardless of code still have some VA Medical benefits, and can still file claims through the VA regardless of separation code (assuming not Dishonorably Discharged, which the article doesn't imply). The veterans medical record for these cases will have "ample" documentation as they are being tested to ensure it is not "disorder" related, etc.
Seeing "mental health discharge" could be a potential red flag for an employer, and result in discrimination.
As for Suicide rate, I think our issue is more complex than that. Keep in mind all veterans, regardless of code still have some VA Medical benefits, and can still file claims through the VA regardless of separation code (assuming not Dishonorably Discharged, which the article doesn't imply). The veterans medical record for these cases will have "ample" documentation as they are being tested to ensure it is not "disorder" related, etc.
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SGT Jim Z.
I agree that the suicide rate is more complex but this could still be a contributing factor especially if the service member is getting the run around from the VA. This report does raise some questions though and services appear to be attempting to cover their sixes as not to admit to violating DoD Policy.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SGT Jim Z. this is happening at the Service level though, vice the VA. So at discharge time USMC/USN/USA are putting RE-XX instead of RE-YY which would make it easier for the GAO to track things. Theoretically it would make long term budgeting easier, but historical data from the VA is actually a better benchmark than forecasting data from the services.
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