Civilians Helping Soldiers Cope-Private mental health services for the Military

Howard Waitzkin, M.D., Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology at the University of New Mexico and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois. Dr. Waitzkin said many active duty military personnel are making extensive use of private mental health services. He explained that they often do so because they are dissatisfied with the quality of military care and are worried about reprisals from their command. He discussed outside help that is offered by a nationwide civilian network of volunteer mental health professionals.