WASHINGTON -- Over the last 12 years, many Soldiers have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with wounds, some visible and some not, said a leader in Army Medicine.
"The invisible wounds - post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury - are just as damaging as the visible ones. They impact the families as well as the Soldiers," said Brig. Gen. John M. Cho, a doctor, and deputy chief of staff for operations with Army Medical Command.
An Iraq war veteran himself, Cho spoke June 22 outside the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., as part of National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Day.
This year's theme was "Visible Honor for Invisible Wounds."
Post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD, and traumatic brain injury, or TBI, are not just military-specific issues, Cho said. "They deserve a national discussion."
A big part of that discussion, he said, needs to focus on reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues.
Besides a national discussion, Cho said agencies need to come together, both inside and outside the military, to learn more about identifying and treating PTSD and TBI, as well as preventing it in the first place.
Cho said a PTSD diagnosis is particularly challenging, as "you can't simply get a lab test or take an X-ray to find it."
As part of its collaborative effort, the Army is participating in a $60 million research study for TBI, sponsored by the National Football League, General Electric and Under Armour, he said.
Also, $700 million has been allocated toward both PTSD and TBI as the result of an Aug. 31, 2012, White House executive order to go after the problem with renewed effort in a collaborative manner with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations.
Additionally, the Army has set up seven "restorative centers" in Afghanistan, where TBI can be identified and treated, often allowing Soldiers to stay in theater as they improve, he said.
He explained that PTSD often, but not always, occurs with TBI, and that relationship too is being researched.
"We're nowhere near where we want to be, however, when it comes to researching PTSD and TBI," he said, "a lot more needs to be done."
Cho said PTSD impacted him personally when his brother, who also is a U.S. Military Academy graduate, returned from Afghanistan. His brother was suffering from PTSD.
He sought treatment and is better now, Cho said, adding that his brother is telling his story to other Soldiers in an effort to get them to seek care.
"We know treatment helps," Cho said. "We can help them get better and they can continue to serve in our Army with honor and distinction."
As a result of his brother's experience, Cho said he's a big believer in group therapy, particularly cognitive processing psychotherapy.
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