April 26, 2012
[VIDEO] By Sarah Pusateri – When Stacie King finished up 10 years of service in the United States Navy, she was assured by her Navy TAP class instructor – a class that helps soldiers transition into civilian life and find jobs – that she would be a hot commodity for many employers. “They were just like, ‘everyone wants to hire a veteran,’” recalls King. “Everyone wants to hire a veteran. You’re so marketable!” King says for her, the exact opposite was true. She applied for dozens of jobs but got no response.
April 20, 2012
By Sarah Pusateri – Healthystate.org presents its newest documentary entitled Uniform Betrayal: Rape in the Military. The hour-long film examines the problem of rape and sexual assault in the military from the viewpoint of the survivors as well as from experts who are studying this issue. Filmmakers Jennifer Molina and Sarah Pusateri traveled to the Pentagon to find out what the Department of Defense says it’s doing to combat what even they call “a very big problem.”
April 5, 2012
[VIDEO] By Sarah Pusateri – It’s been called a “black eye” to the military, as well as an “epidemic.” Sexual assault, military leaders would agree, is a serious problem within the U.S. armed forces. Acknowledging that was the first step, and now the government is working towards a solution.
January 17, 2012
[VIDEO] By Sarah Pusateri – Experts say as many as 20% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post traumatic syndrome disorder, or PTSD. Nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety are all symptoms of the disorder. Less publicized, however, is the effect PTSD has on the children growing up in the homes of veterans suffering from the disorder. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs says studies of Vietnam veterans’ families reveal that children of veterans with PTSD are at a higher risk for behavioral, academic and interpersonal problems. Also, research has linked PTSD to an increased likelihood of violence in the home.
December 6, 2011
By Sarah Pusateri – When soldiers are raped, sexually assaulted or harassed in the military, they’re required to report that abuse to their immediate supervisors. The problem is, sometimes that supervisor is the one committing the abuse. A new bill introduced to Congress addresses this issue – as well as others.
November 21, 2011
[VIDEO] By Sarah Pusateri – Diabetes, cancer, obesity and depression. Researchers at the University of South Florida College of Nursing believe there’s a strong link between these problems and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Now, they’re getting a chance to prove the theory with the help from a grant from the U.S. Army. “We were aware of literature showing that women veterans in the current conflicts were coming back with higher levels of PTSD. They are suffering difficulties in sort of transitioning back to civilian life,” says nursing professor Maureen Groer. “They are having marital problems. And from the trauma literature, we know that those women are probably at risk for later mid-life diseases.”
November 10, 2011
By Sarah Pusateri – While most people’s exposure to military sexual violence may have come from Hollywood, it’s actually a very real problem. Soldiers may expect shootings and even bombings in war, but they also face a more personal type of threat. It’s called MST, or military sexual trauma and often times, the perpetrator is a fellow soldier. Statistics from Veterans Affairs show nearly one in four women have experienced MST.
November 4, 2011
By Sarah Pusateri – Finger waving, talking and using imagery. Could these seemingly simple actions hold the key to cracking PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder? The University of South Florida’s Dr. Carrie Elk thinks so. Using a grant funded by the Department of Defense, Dr. Elk is currently treating veterans suffering from PTSD through a process called accelerated resolution therapy.