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Focal Point: “The War Within” |
The suicide rate among Army soldiers hit a record high in 2009, and for the first time ever exceeded the rate in the civilian population. Many blame Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, which is an adverse reaction to traumatic events that can cause irritability, anxiety, sleeplessness and depression. A new WRAL Focal Point documentary called “The War Within” looks at the impact of PTSD on military families in North Carolina. It airs Thursday March 4 at 7:00pm and is hosted by WRAL News anchor Debra Morgan.
The military, and the Army in particular, is developing new programs to help soldiers with PTSD in light of the increasing suicide rate. The suicides of four soldiers who served together in the 1451st Transportation Company, a North Carolina National Guard unit based in Boone, also got the military’s attention and helped lead to the creation of new initiatives to help members of the National Guard suffering from PTSD.
Unlike regular active duty soldiers, members of the Guard return to their hometowns instead of military bases where support services are more readily available.
Focal Point: “The War Within” profiles the case of one of the four men serving in 1451st who committed suicide. It also profiles two other members of the Guard who served with that soldier and continue to struggle with PTSD.
The documentary examines the toll PTSD places on military families and shows the military’s efforts to educate soldiers about PTSD and get help to those who need it.
Click the following link for a video preview of Focal Point: The War Within: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSG6-tU6kxE
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Focal Point |
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Debbie Tullos for this capcom story.
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