Page 624 - Total War on PTSD

According to Rieman, sometimes it is friends and family members that can make all the difference in the early stages of the struggle. “If you ask for help and you’re told no [by VA or another healthcare provider], don’t stop asking,” Rieman stated emphatically, “keep going until you hear yes and you get what you need. The person who helps you doesn’t necessarily have to a be licensed professional, they just have to be able to listen.”
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The second, and often under-utilized, thing we can do is to put proper funding and research into alternative therapy methods. As the various authors of the previous chapters outline, there are many, many ways to improve the health and well-being of someone suffering from PTSD and may be struggling with suicidal thoughts that do not involved pharmaceuticals.
Unfortunately, a series of pharmaceutical breakthroughs in the early-2000s led to an over-reliance on medication as a quick fix for mental health ailments. Many of those suffering wanted instant relief, which pharmaceuticals can provide. However, some of these pharmaceuticals also had unwanted side effects, and others were addicting. And, like mental health itself, some came with a stigma that caused those who could potentially benefit not to take them at all. Various alternative therapies not only have the ability to reduce dependence on pharmaceutical medications, but they may also motivate those reluctant to receive traditional therapy such as counseling to seek help, and may also enhance the results of traditional treatment methods by making patients more engaged and more compliant.
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