To the Point
Stress in the Military
Two of the biggest issues faced by soldiers and combat veterans are stress and mental health. At Walter Reed Hospital, doctors have enlisted psychiatric service dogs to help treat soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. What role does man's best friend play in healing? What can be done to catch signs of an impending breakdown before it's too late? Guest host Sara Terry gets an update on yesterday's shootings at Fort Hood, looks at the role stress might have played and learns about the evolving role of psychiatric service dogs.
By Sara Terry • • 50m ListenTwo of the biggest issues faced by soldiers and combat veterans are stress and mental health. Yesterday's shooting suspect at Fort Hood, a trained army psychiatrist, was reportedly suffering from some of the same stresses he was trained to treat. At Walter Reed Hospital, doctors have enlisted psychiatric service dogs to help treat soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. What role does man's best friend play in healing? What can be done to catch signs of an impending breakdown before it's too late? Guest host Sara Terry gets an update on yesterday's shootings at Fort Hood, looks at the role stress might have played and learns about the evolving role of psychiatric service dogs.
Banner image: Jesus Bocanegra, 24, drinks water to wash down one of four anti-depression and anxiety drugs he takes in McAllen, Texas. Bocanegra has been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, a result of his service in Iraq. Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
