On Monday, Chiarelli was at Fort Hood as part of a tour of eight Army posts meeting with leaders to talk about suicide among the ranks.
“We are looking at the general and the total mental health of our soldiers, our families and our communities. Why? Because we are a stressed and tired force from seven and half years of war, multiple deployments,” Chiarelli said.
Army officials announced two weeks ago they were taking a hard look at the increasing suicide rates among active duty soldiers, and hosting a task force in Washington, D.C. to get feedback from post chaplains about what they see.
Last year, 143 soldiers took their own lives, and this year, more than 20 soldier deaths have been confirmed as suicides, while 28 more deaths still under investigation could be classified as suicide.
Earlier this month, a Fort Hood soldier assigned to the Warrior Transition Brigade took his own life, according to brigade officials.
The soldier had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and was in the process of getting help for his issues.
While the help is there, there is also a stigma attached to mental health issues, and has been for many years.
Chiarelli said, however, the Army was taking steps to wipe away that perception.
“I think that, we, the Army, have stepped up to the plate and said, ‘we have a stigma issue.’ But quite frankly, that if America was honest with itself, I think that mental health issues are issues that all of us have, whether in the military or the civilian world,” Chiarelli said. “The force is stretched and we need to do everything we possibly can to lower the stress on the force. We have to change the culture of our Army, so we can do the same for folks who need to seek mental health care providers at home.”
Maj. Dave Olson, who serves with the 4th Infantry Division’s public affairs office, just finished his third deployment to Iraq in February.
For five years, Olson has been assigned to Fort Hood, but he has spent the majority of that time fighting in Iraq, and the fighting has taken its toll on him and his family.
“My wife tells me I have PTSD and that I need to go and get some help,” Olson said.
But he has been reluctant to seek help because of the stigma attached to seeking help for mental health issues.
“I need to get over my fear, and just go in and take care of business,” he said.
Olson said he has been afraid of losing his security clearance, because if he does, he can’t do his job as a soldier.
However, with the Army’s top brass working on this issue, Olson and soldiers like him believe there finally may be some hope for them.
“Soldiers understand that and will be forthcoming in getting the help they need,” Olson said.
