HEALING THE HIDDEN WOUNDS: SOUND BODY - SOUND MIND SYMPOSIUM  MAY 11  2010
STIGMA QUESTIONS:
What needs to be done?
Summary Statements of Responses
1.	Peer Support
		More Vet to Vet groups
		Educate the "buddy" on how to help, teach the warning signs
		More peer support groups with young OEF/OIF veterans
		getting successful vets out into the community showing that everybody needs
		help now and again
		promote cohesions, lessen isolation
2.	Clinical/Specialized Treatment
		More specialized training for TBI injuries
		Don't use anger management when needing to treat chemical or physical
		underlying problems
		Embedded Behavioral Health Officers
		Constantly evaluate and address changes in vet symptons and social and
		emotional changes - do more studies
	Website, Networking  & Community Collaboration
		Need a website  with comprehensive contact sheets and better
		communication on how to take advantage of services
		Eliminate the mazes
		More collaboration between agencies
		Online chats
		Quicker communications between all groups
		Use Facebook, Twitter, Chat rooms, blogs and web technology for online chats
3.	Family Education
		Ensure families understand their role as "caregivers" help them to influence
		their soldier to get help
		Include family members in the process
4.	Command Support & Modeling
		Get commanders and officers to say treatment is all right and model behavior
		Mentorship to young males and females that have no family or friend support
		or cannot talk to them
		Stop glossing over obvious mental health problems
		Command needs to allow easy access to VA clinic
5.	Make Policy Changes
		Change policies  - no mental health barriers
6.	Better Benefits
		Better care, military pays for second opinion