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New military mental health center will treat brain injury and psychological trauma

May 27, 2010 Areawide No Comments

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence is expected to open on June 24 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Artist's rendering courtesy of Military Health System, U.S. Dept. of Defense.

A new 72,000-square-foot center for treatment of service members and veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and psychological health conditions will open June 24 at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence, to be funded by private donations, is a project of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a nonprofit organization begun by the Fisher family to support service members and their families.

The family is well known in the military community for its Fisher Houses, which provide low- or no-cost lodging for families of wounded or injured service members undergoing medical treatment or rehabilitation.

Thousands of Americans have contributed to the $65 million effort, with donations ranging from a few dollars to a $3 million gift from TV personality Bob Barker. Donations also have come from corporate and nonprofit organizations.

The funds have helped build and equip the center; it will now be turned over to the Defense Department to operate.

The center is designed to provide the latest treatments for wounded warriors with traumatic brain injury and/or psychological health conditions.

The center also will conduct research, test new treatments and provide comprehensive training and education to patients, providers and families.

Long-term follow-up care will be provided to ensure that “once soldiers separate from the military, they do not separate from whatever continued treatment they need,” according to an announcement from the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Information about improvements in screening, diagnosis, and treatment will be provided to the military and Veterans Affairs Department medical facilities across the country, officials said.

Posted May 27, 2010

Business

Brenda Sullivan | HTNP.com Editor

The fact that you consider “mental health” a stigma is surprising and perhaps telling of your own prejudices.

Also, the headline is still accurate in that psychological trauma is one of the areas this center will address.

I did not call this a “mental illness” center.

Also, I sincerely doubt this headline is capable of destroying anything or setting this project back by years.

And finally, the story itself very clearly states what this center is about and what it hopes to accomplish.

While you are welcome to express your opinion, in this instance I very much disagree with your very vehement assessment of the use of the word “mental” in the headline.

I also would like you to know that I am an advocate for those with mental health issues. And that I count among my friends someone who recovered wonderfully from traumatic brain injury (he wrote a book about it, called Black Ice).

It was not my intent to stigmatize this center and in fact, I did not do so via that headline.
grace

Mental Health Center is a misnomer. this is a HEALTH center for TBI and those with PTSD, thanks for destroying the many efforts to reduce stigma attached to such terms as mental health that is a barrier for military people to reach out for help you have just set this project back years. in the future please be mindful of issues like stigma before you incorrectly refer to what is going to be an institution of hope and wellness in the worse possible light.