AT a recent news conference at the Pentagon, Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, the Army surgeon general, took issue with a New York Times article that referred to the Army's Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) as "warehouses of despair."
As a mother of a Fort Carson soldier who attempted to take his own life just a few months ago, I feel the term is indeed an accurate description of the WTU there. I was unaware of the depth of his despair until he made what was going to be his last call home.
"I cannot take it, Mom. I am done. I am sorry."
On Jan. 31, to my shock and horror, my son, Specialist Cole Vickery, attempted to take his life by overdosing on Trazadone, alcohol and marijuana.
After returning home from an intense combat tour in Iraq, Cole realized he needed help. He began to have nightmares, anxiety and rage for no apparent reason. Then he courageously asked for help from the Army's mental-health office. But, instead of getting help, he was ridiculed, threatened by his chain of command, drugged by the medical providers, isolated as a form of "corrective action" for sleeping in and left with no hope.
Either because of a lack of education or total disregard from his superior officers, his calls for help were dismissed.
Once out of the hospital, Cole was released to regular duty. I had to fly down to Fort Carson and speak with his company commander and physician to demand they get him into treatment.
Fort Carson's medical staff must have seen significant symptoms of stress because they put my son on a pretty heavy regimen of psychotropic medicine. Cole was given two antidepressants, pills for anxiety and insomnia, an antacid, a hypertension aid and additional insomnia medication at two times higher than the "official" recommended dose.
As a result of the sleep medication, my son had a blackout episode, resulting in an unusual forced discharge from the facility.
Much more at the link...
By: Brant
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