New Mental Health Policy Came Days Before Fort Hood Shooting

Three days before a shooting rampage that left a dozen dead and more than 30 wounded at Fort Hood in Texas, the base commander, Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, issued a new mental health policy aimed at reducing the stigma associated with mental health counseling and encouraging soldiers to seek help, according to a copy of the document obtained by U.S. News.

Mental health issues have come to the forefront at the Pentagon because of the stress of repeated deployments over the past eight years with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers face a far different daily life when they return home, but are often haunted by their experiences in combat. As a consequence, mental health counseling at the nation's various military posts has become increasingly important.

"This policy change recognizes that, as a nation at war, soldiers' well-being must be given the highest priority," according to the two-page document dated November 2. "Commanders shall lead the way in promoting strong behavioral health at Fort Hood by publicizing this policy change." The policy memo orders unit commanders to "actively encourage soldiers to seek professional care for any behavioral health related issues that could affect their well-being."

Another section of the policy stressed that soldiers undergoing mental health counseling related to "marital, family and grief issues, and counseling for adjustments from service in a military combat environment" would not have that fact held against them when they apply for security clearances. Soldiers, airmen, and marines sometimes cite confusion about what can and cannot be considered in the security clearance process as a reason not to seek counseling for ailments like post-traumatic stress disorder.

Read the full mental health policy here.