Vt. Guard working to address signs of PTSD with vets
Burlington Free Press
Sam Hemingway
Staff Writer
May 8, 2014
COLCHESTER – An estimated 25 percent of 3,000 Vermont Army National Guard soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 are dealing with post traumatic stress disorder symptoms, the state surgeon for the Guard said Thursday.
"I think 25 percent is a reasonable ballpark that tells me they are receiving some semblance of care" for PTSD symptoms, said Col. Martin Lucenti, the Guard's top medical officer.
Lucenti said about a third of the 3,000 soldiers in the Guard deployment were exposed to a concussive event — an explosion or roadside bomb — during their time in Afghanistan, but only about 30 suffered concussions that could lead to at least a mild traumatic brain injury diagnosis.
Lucenti said the Guard tries to track soldiers struggling with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries through regular medical checkups, home visits and a "battle buddy" program that encourages soldiers to stay in touch with comrades in their units.
"A significant amount of our soldiers do require some additional behavioral health support to reintegrate after deployments, obviously more with each subsequent deployment," Lucenti said.
Lucenti's comments came in the aftermath of the April 26 shooting death of Kryn Miner, a chief warrant officer, 2, with Guard's headquarters division. Police said Miner was shot by one of his teenage children at his home after he threatened to kill his wife and four children.
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