Reasons why Purple hearts could be awarded for Post traumatic stress disorder?
As you continue to read this article you will notice how you begin to absorb this information.
Many years before Iraq and Afghanistan went to war, George Washington created the Purple Heart to honour troops who had been physically wounded in combat.
But with an increasing number of troops being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the modern military is debating an idea that George Washington may never have considered — awarding one of the nation’s top military citations to veterans with psychological wounds, not just physical ones.
Arguments erupt when people state that the Purple Heart should be reserved for physical injuries, Some opponents note that PTSD can be faked, which can’t easily be done with a physical wound.
A recent California-based research institution Rand Corp. study concluded that 300,000 of the military personnel who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan have symptoms of the disorder, which can sometimes lead to suicide. The report found tragedies closely linked to the development of PTSD: Half of the 1.6 million troops who spent time in the two war zones had friends who were seriously wounded or killed, while about 45% saw dead or wounded civilians.
The purple heart is a recognition for being wounded, and PTSD is a recognized in the military as a wound worthy of disability pay. I feel this honour should catch up with current policies.
My intention is not to trivialize some ones physical injuries but to support justice in bringing all aspects of war sufferings into play and their subsequent recognitions.
Do these people actually understand the causes and effects of PTSD and our basic instinct the infamous “Fight or Flight syndrome”?
How being witness to a death or being subject to a near death situation can result in years of suffering -
If you are like me then you would like to see all veterans being awarded medals of honour, courage and bravery and also having the opportunity to access some form of psychological therapy as a ways and means of offering some after care to these brave men and women who put their lives in danger to serve and protect their own countries. I know that the police service are offered treatment and so are the fire service and medical staff – So what about our Troops?
Share with us all what this information meant to you.
Dawn Pugh Psychotherapist
