I found this. So, from that, it doesn't seem as though they were actively seeking a PTSD dx.
"Earlier Thursday, Secretary of the Army John McHugh told Congress that the suspect was undergoing treatment for depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances, and that after an examination last month the Army planned to “continue to monitor and treat him as deemed appropriate.”
And while I'm a huge advocate of getting appropriate mental health resources, I get angry any time someone blames violence on the mentally "ill" who are statistically not any more likely to commit violent crimes. I also see a provider for depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, but I don't think I'm in any danger of shooting anyone.
I'm still interested in this, too. BBC said there was a verbal altercation. They also pronounced it as Ft Huuuude which made me inappropriately laugh.
I'm not sure what they mean by saying he was "being evaluated for" PTSD. As in, had the command noticed? Had he gone to a chaplain or mental health? How formal was this evaluation?
My guess is he was already prepared to shoot up the place, probably tense with a ton of adrenaline, and along the way verbally sparred with someone.
I'd heard that he'd already been evaluated for PTSD last month. He was undergoing treatment for anxiety and depression and had been for some time. It sounds to me like he was dealing with depression and anxiety for a while and that the PTSD screening might have been ordered as part of an evaluation at the new post. I think he'd only been at Ft Hood for four months. So I would imagine it would be akin to going to a new therapist who wants to go over your record, make sure the old doctor didn't miss anything, and form the right treatment plan going forward.
He also self-reported his "traumatic brain injury," and there is no record of him being injured on any deployment/in service. He was in treatment, under evaluation, and had no known violent tendencies. I'm thinking (non-PTSD) mental illness that was getting worse despite treatment. It got me thinking about the other tough thing in treating mental illness--much of the treatment has no markers for how effective it is other than self-reporting and observation. Unlike pretty much any other disease where scans, bloodwork, etc. can give a doc a picture of how you're doing. It makes it really, really hard to prevent harmful situations, even when you're (as a medical team) doing the right things. It's scary, and sad, and frustrating.
He also self reported head trauma after he came home from Iraq. I'm not sure what self reported means because the article said they have no record of injury.
I'd heard it was a civilian or garrison injury. So falling off one's bike or something like that I would assume.
I know it seems people are already over it, but I'm rather fascinated with this story.
What I've gotten so far is that the shooter was from Puerto Rico, has only been at this post a few months, and came there from Ft Bliss. He also may have had an altercation with someone that sparked the attack. However, seeing as you don't carry on post, I seriously doubt he simply got into an argument with someone and started shooting.
I've also seen that he had a wife and a three year old daughter. I cannot imagine.
The part about an altercation is interesting, especially since I was reading today that this has sparked discussion (no idea how serious) about allowing all soldiers to carry on base.
My immediate instinct is no, much like in the civilian world, the answer is not more armed people.
Post by cattledogkisses on Apr 3, 2014 23:05:19 GMT -5
It's terribly sad and scary, because it seems like its so hard to pick out the warning signs before its too late. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are super common after a deployment, but the vast majority of those people aren't going to go shoot up a base.
The part about an altercation is interesting, especially since I was reading today that this has sparked discussion (no idea how serious) about allowing all soldiers to carry on base.
My immediate instinct is no, much like in the civilian world, the answer is not more armed people.
The part about an altercation is interesting, especially since I was reading today that this has sparked discussion (no idea how serious) about allowing all soldiers to carry on base.
My immediate instinct is no, much like in the civilian world, the answer is not more armed people.
That's a terrible idea. Absolutely terrible.
I didn't have time to fully read the article I saw earlier so I just went back and read it, and it sounds like most people, including the commander of Ft. Hood also think its a terrible idea, so thank goodness.
I didn't know there was actually a bill introduced in Congress after the Navy yard shooting to arm everyone on base. It didn't gain any traction.
[The part about an altercation is interesting, especially since I was reading today that this has sparked discussion (no idea how serious) about allowing all soldiers to carry on base.
My immediate instinct is no, much like in the civilian world, the answer is not more armed people.
There is no way in hell they will allow people to carry on post. None whatsoever.
It's terribly sad and scary, because it seems like its so hard to pick out the warning signs before its too late. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are super common after a deployment, but the vast majority of those people aren't going to go shoot up a base.
This concerns me. My employer hires a lot of veterans and it's a very high stress job. We were discussing at work the other day (after this incident) with a "what if" someone goes crazy at work. We're also doing a lot of hiring over the next 5 yrs and having difficulty finding qualified people so I am concerned that if someone doesn't seem "right" that they'll still get hired if they have prior experience and whatnot.
Post by Velar Fricative on Apr 4, 2014 6:03:12 GMT -5
@ojo, what is OIF?
Also, does anyone know if it's not unusual for someone to be transferred to a new base during the course of psychological treatment/therapy? My first assumption was that the person remain with their doctor/therapist until treatment/therapy is finished but I have no idea what's standard in the military. It just made me wonder if his move to the new base set something off in him.
Also, does anyone know if it's not unusual for someone to be transferred to a new base during the course of psychological treatment/therapy? My first assumption was that the person remain with their doctor/therapist until treatment/therapy is finished but I have no idea what's standard in the military. It just made me wonder if his move to the new base set something off in him.
I was thinking this too actually. Continuity of care, especially in the midst of what seemed to be some serious unknowns, is very important. I wonder also if moving around happens regardless of what else is going on.
If it was planned then whatever base he came from is pretty damn lucky.
His poor wife and child too. I can't even imagine what his wife must've been feeling when she was watching and then heard his name. Think she was feeling something in the back of her mind from the beginning, or total complete shock? God bless her.
It's terribly sad and scary, because it seems like its so hard to pick out the warning signs before its too late. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are super common after a deployment, but the vast majority of those people aren't going to go shoot up a base.
This concerns me. My employer hires a lot of veterans and it's a very high stress job. We were discussing at work the other day (after this incident) with a "what if" someone goes crazy at work. We're also doing a lot of hiring over the next 5 yrs and having difficulty finding qualified people so I am concerned that if someone doesn't seem "right" that they'll still get hired if they have prior experience and whatnot.
Also, does anyone know if it's not unusual for someone to be transferred to a new base during the course of psychological treatment/therapy? My first assumption was that the person remain with their doctor/therapist until treatment/therapy is finished but I have no idea what's standard in the military. It just made me wonder if his move to the new base set something off in him.
I would be shocked if anyone in the military has given thought to continuity of care. But the way things are set up, it would be irrelevant. If he was seeing someone on post, they could be as easily transferred as he could. If he was seeing someone off post, that's a different story obviously.
OIF is Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Regarding weapons, enlisted soldiers aren't issued handguns, btw when they are carrying weapons, except for MPs. So what people would be asking is for the military to buy more handguns or to give them their standard issue on the daily basis. The only idea worse than letting soldiers carry a weapon as they go about their in garrison business is letting them carry M-16s and M-4s.
Also, I talked to my husband about this yesterday and he basically went OFF on what a ridiculous notion is it, how tightly they regulate weapons even during weapons qualifications out in the field. It would be stupid in terms of personal safety, fool hardy in terms of logistics, and a nightmare in terms of theft, forgetfulness, and budgetary concerns. Some idiot Pfc would be the brilliant fool to leave it in the trunk of his car. Then his car gets stolen and some dude at a chop shop is sitting on a M-4. The army has tools "walk off" all of the time. I cannot imagine how many guns would go missing or stolen or broken if they were handed out on a daily basis.
So for all of those reasons, the military will not be changing its policy. They just won't.
It's terribly sad and scary, because it seems like its so hard to pick out the warning signs before its too late. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are super common after a deployment, but the vast majority of those people aren't going to go shoot up a base.
This concerns me. My employer hires a lot of veterans and it's a very high stress job. We were discussing at work the other day (after this incident) with a "what if" someone goes crazy at work. We're also doing a lot of hiring over the next 5 yrs and having difficulty finding qualified people so I am concerned that if someone doesn't seem "right" that they'll still get hired if they have prior experience and whatnot.
This concerns me. My employer hires a lot of veterans and it's a very high stress job. We were discussing at work the other day (after this incident) with a "what if" someone goes crazy at work. We're also doing a lot of hiring over the next 5 yrs and having difficulty finding qualified people so I am concerned that if someone doesn't seem "right" that they'll still get hired if they have prior experience and whatnot.
I'm probably taking this personally but the majority of veterans aren't shooting up work places.
AAM2012, have you read The Gift of Fear? There's a chapter on workplace violence and questions that can be asked during interviews that might give an indication if the applicant is mentally sound.
The shooter in this case was an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, which means it's been years since he was deployed. I'm concerned about what has happened between then and now. I haven't actively sought out any information because I've been having deployment related nightmares. My heart is so broken that so many of us are still dealing with deployment issues this many years later.
I've heard his OIF deployment was four month long and in 2011. They said he wasn't involved in any combat. But I would imagine we can't definitively say what happened to him there, what he might have seen.
@helenabonhamcarter, has there been any further information about the TBI evaluation he was supposedly undergoing?
I'm not sure. I know that he'd had an eval about a month ago that concluded he wasn't a danger to himself or others, no propensity towards violence, and recommended continuing with the treatment he was already receiving.
The only thing I've heard about the possible TBI is that it wasn't combat related. There was no further information that I've heard so I was assuming it was a car accident or something in garrison/civilian.
It's terribly sad and scary, because it seems like its so hard to pick out the warning signs before its too late. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are super common after a deployment, but the vast majority of those people aren't going to go shoot up a base.
This concerns me. My employer hires a lot of veterans and it's a very high stress job. We were discussing at work the other day (after this incident) with a "what if" someone goes crazy at work. We're also doing a lot of hiring over the next 5 yrs and having difficulty finding qualified people so I am concerned that if someone doesn't seem "right" that they'll still get hired if they have prior experience and whatnot.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
It's terribly sad and scary, because it seems like its so hard to pick out the warning signs before its too late. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are super common after a deployment, but the vast majority of those people aren't going to go shoot up a base.
This concerns me. My employer hires a lot of veterans and it's a very high stress job. We were discussing at work the other day (after this incident) with a "what if" someone goes crazy at work. We're also doing a lot of hiring over the next 5 yrs and having difficulty finding qualified people so I am concerned that if someone doesn't seem "right" that they'll still get hired if they have prior experience and whatnot.
I feel like you missed the latter part of my statement. The vast, vast majority of veterans who suffer from PTSD or other after effects from a deployment do not commit violence. If anything, they are more likely to harm themselves (suicide) than others.
This concerns me. My employer hires a lot of veterans and it's a very high stress job. We were discussing at work the other day (after this incident) with a "what if" someone goes crazy at work. We're also doing a lot of hiring over the next 5 yrs and having difficulty finding qualified people so I am concerned that if someone doesn't seem "right" that they'll still get hired if they have prior experience and whatnot.
I'm probably taking this personally but the majority of veterans aren't shooting up work places.
No that wasn't what I was saying and I apologize if it came off that way. I didn't fully explain it in my original response and I posted and ran. In the past we (where I work) have had issues with people who have made 'unusual' comments, threatened suicide and other threats against the company because of the stress. It doesn't happen a lot but more so then the prior company that I have been with and it's scary to know that a lot of times there aren't warning signs. More and more veterans are being diagnosed and getting treatment for PTSD, TBI's and whatnot and my co-workers and I were stating that we hope that our employer is aware of this and providing the support that these individuals (and anyone who has health/mental condition) need since they're getting hired more and more.
I hope that makes sense and I am sorry if it came across that I was specifically pointed that only veterans go crazy because that wasn't my intent. I have seen veterans struggle in our work environment because it is difficult to transition from a military to a civilian job, seems more so than the 'average' person.
As for continuity of care, I'm just a spouse, so they'll probably ignore me. However, I fully expect for them to move me, and I'll lose my awesome therapist. Such is life in the military.
Apparently, there were recent deaths in his family that he was struggling with. He was also upset that he wasn't given much leave to attend his mother's funeral.