Addressing the mental health crisis created by the occupation of Iraq

We recognize the need for the social justice movement to reach across boundaries constructed by class, racism and sexism in order to reinvent itself and begin the healing from the travesty wrought by this administration. In an effort to do so, I created the HOPE: High school Outreach Peace Education, going into the schools, constructing a peaceful alternative students can access while school budgets are dwindling. The Hope program evolved quite naturally into a demilitarization program. As of this writing, we are nearing 1000 discharges for a variety of reasons.

Working with Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) members as a clinician/activist and in providing psych support for returning veterans has proven to me the importance of IVAW and Winter Soldier. The organization serves as a means to help heal the wounds of war and channel the energy into a momentum for change from lessons learned.

What is the psychological status of returning veterans? I will speak about the Critical Incident Stress Directive that was initiated in July of 2006 and how the interpretation and implementation of this directive by people with little insight into the mental health risks presented by soldiers is continuing the abuse and neglect of the military.

There is a great need for the social justice movement to join with labor to end violence as a solution. It is the working family that is the most impacted by the trauma coming home and the traumatic losses of this illegal occupation.