Colorado Springs – The National Gulf War Resource Center is launching a free program here this week that aims to connect Fort Carson soldiers seeking mental-health services with therapists off-base.
“There’s a reluctance for some soldiers to seek out the Army’s formal program,” said Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera, an Army veteran who supports the program.
“They don’t want to appear weak or needing help,” he said.
Iraq war veteran Georg-Andreas “Andrew” Pogany said he came up with the idea for Operation JUST ONE after his own experience with post-traumatic stress disorder. The 34-year-old Florida native said he suffered panic attacks, paranoia and hallucinations during and after his 2003 tour in Iraq with the 10th Special Forces.
The Army charged him with cowardice after he reacted negatively to seeing a mangled corpse near his base in Samarra, Iraq. The charges eventually were dropped and Pogany said he received a medical discharge.
“Soldiers say they are ridiculed and labeled as weak when they try to access mental-health services,” Pogany said.
Fort Carson has a mental-health program that includes up to six free visits with a therapist for all soldiers, said post spokeswoman Dee McNutt.
Soldiers also go through extensive screening and re-integration programs upon leaving Iraq.
An Army study released this summer indicates that 30 percent of troops serving in Iraq develop stress-related mental-health problems three to four months after they return.
About 5 percent develop post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, a serious mental affliction that can sometimes lead to suicide.
Steve Robinson, executive director of the Gulf War Resource Center, said the most recent figures he’s compiled show 45 service members had committed suicide in Iraq since the war started and 35 more killed themselves after they came home.
“I know there’s been more since then,” he said. “The big issue is (the Department of Defense) doesn’t track stateside suicides. You could kill yourself after stepping off the plane coming back, and they wouldn’t count it.”
Lakewood psychologist Ed Cable said there is a need for supplemental mental-health programs for military personnel, but providers should work with the military.
Cable, a Colorado Psychological Association board member, launched a program six months ago at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora offering free or reduced-rate therapy primarily to the National Guard and reservists. The program is sanctioned by the base’s Family Support Program.
Pogany said he’s contacted Fort Carson personnel but hasn’t found much enthusiasm.
“It’s quite possible that mental-health services are improving on base,” he said.
“But we’re being told there are still barriers to treatment. There are still suicides. The system is overloaded.”
For more information, visit www.operationjustone.orgor e-mail Pogany at
