For Immediate Release
PDF version here: 2015-03-06 press release
Contact Information:
James Landrith, VP for Media Relations
Men Recovering from Military Sexual Trauma (MR. MST)
mobile: 301-318-8338
media@mrmst.org
http://mrmst.org
Veterans Benefits Administration To Provide Online Benefits Help for Military Male Survivors Via MR. MST
Washington, DC – March, 16 2015 – On Monday, March 16, 2015, Undersecretary Hickey and her staff provided Men Recovering from Military Sexual Trauma (MR. MST) with online access to an MST Coordinator to answer questions and provide assistance with regard to MST issues and claims. This assistance will be provided via MR. MST’s private, Facebook hosted male survivor forum.
In response to the Undersecretary’s decision to help, MR. MST President Brian Lewis released the following statement: “We are pleased that the Veterans Benefits Administration has taken a first step in reaching out to male survivors of military sexual trauma. Undersecretary Hickey, and her staff, have taken the first steps by this Administration to treat male survivors of sexual crimes as victims needing assistance.”
Men Recovering from Military Sexual Trauma would like to express their sincere appreciation to Undersecretary Hickey and her staff for the wonderful resource they have provided to male survivors of military sexual trauma. MR. MST encourages male survivors in an active duty, reserve or veteran status to apply for membership in their moderated, private forum by emailing president@mrmst.org.
About Men Recovering from Military Sexual Trauma: MR. MST seeks to empower male survivors and their allies and raise awareness of male survivors of sexual crimes in the military.
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Discussion and Links:
Had a major issue while in navy// am seeing a psychiatrist. Have a diagnosis . Getting help with filing I have been ignored by couple VSO.first one old school guy. Filed ptsd didn’t ask about details .told him I was about to get diagnosis. He spent 15 minutes with me . Said you are getting meds for anxiety and ptsd we will file. Anyway claim got denied . My health over years deteriorated to point. As a man. This is all a very humiliating process . The psychiatrist through VA should have way more input in the rating process rather then putting the veteran in a situation to look for major words to get the raters attention. Looking at posts or information from others .They all are looking for the help with the magic words to sway a rater who has no idea who they are.Their are a lot of great people I met with VA. There sadly is a lot of VA people going through the motions on their job especially mental health . Had to vent a little .