CNN

May 29th, 2011

Gen. Chiarelli: We need more behavioral health specialists

The Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army says the armed services needs to “reach out” and help struggling veterans.

CROWLEY:  And so when you look at something like PTSD, I’ve read in several of the articles, you said you just don’t have enough psychiatrists and you don’t have enough folks who are suffering who want to come and talk because of the stigma to it.  So first let me ask you, why are there not enough psychiatrists in the Army?  Why are not enough psychiatrists available to the Army?

CHIARELLI:  That’s a national problem and you’re going to have to ask the nation.  I have a problem because the rest of the nation has a problem and we have a real deficit in behavioral health specialists in this country.  We need more.  I need more in the Army.

A full transcript of the interview can be found here.