Less than one in four veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who show signs of post-traumatic stress are being referred for treatment. A new report from the Government Accountability Office says the Defense Department is falling short. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.
The GAO report says the Defense Department can't guarantee referrals to mental health treatment for all veterans who need them. And the report says there's a wide variation of referral rates among the different branches of the military.
Psychologist Jeffrey Matloff directs the post-traumatic stress disorder delivery team at San Diego's VA Hospital.
Matloff: Obviously more aggressive referrals need to be made. But you know the military, there still I believe is some kind of stigma against getting help for mental problems and emotional problems, particularly post-traumatic stress.
Matloff says there's a prevailing attitude among service members that getting help for mental health problems may be a career-ending move. Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
