Technology

New PTSD Android, iPhone Apps Help U.S. Soldiers Suffering From Post-War Afflictions

iPhone, Android PTSD Apps Help Soldiers Emotionally Suffering From Iraq Afghanistan WarsWASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — When terrifying battlefield memories come rushing back to mind, in night sweats, flashbacks or a panic attack, some troops and vets now find comfort by reaching for their smartphones.

Using new-age technology to cope with age-old wounds of war, they tap into mobile phone applications, or “apps,” designed to help with post-traumatic stress and brain injuries.

“I’m not going to lie — when this came out, we sort of wanted to slam it,” a once skeptical Staff Sgt. Meg Krause said of her group of veteran friends.

“But it surprised us and has been a phenomenal tool,” said the 29-year-old reservist and medic, who has had counseling for PTSD.

A half-dozen apps with names like “T2 MoodTracker,” ”PTSD Coach“ and ”Breathe2Relax” have been developed by the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department, but not to diagnose illness or replace psychiatric counseling. Rather, the apps offer at-your-fingertips information about what the military calls “invisible wounds” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — and techniques for managing the symptoms. Here’s more on Breathe2Relax:

All but one were the work of the Pentagon, starting with MoodTracker, which lets users rate how they’re feeling — worthless, happy, lonely and so on — and keep a record of their ups and downs over time. Watch, below, for more information on the MoodTracker app:

The newest, released in May, was a joint Pentagon-VA effort — PTSD Coach. It helps self-assess symptoms, gives step-by-step instructions in muscle relaxation and breathing, helps users create a phone list of people to call when they need support and helps vets contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline in an emergency.

“Someone who’s struggling … all they have to do is pull out their smartphone or their iPhone and say, ‘I can help myself,’” Krause said. “To know that there is something that I can pull out and watch, and it will help me go through my breathing techniques so I don’t get to that crisis moment, I think is immensely important.”

There’s also an app for health care providers that includes definitions, causes and severity ratings for mild traumatic brain injury — or concussions — suffered by so many troops from roadside bombs and other explosions. Another for doctors treating PTSD is expected in the coming months. Officials hope the apps for troops, vets and their families will encourage more people to get professional help and will be used by others to supplement professional therapy.

Krause served twice in Iraq and has worked for the “Real Warriors” campaign, a separate defense program in which service members tell their personal stories to encourage other troops to go for counseling. Watch a video about “Real Warriors” here:

Finding others to talk about using the apps is hard since the free downloads are anonymous. Preserving that privacy is a big selling point for a military population that hides its problems for fear of appearing weak or being passed over for promotions.

“Engaging veterans on their own terms is especially crucial in the area of mental health,” said Dr. Sonja Batten, a clinical psychologist who works on national mental health policy for the VA. Providing services that are safe, reliable and private is a priority for the VA, she said, where the number of vets getting mental health care has increased to 1.2 million from 900,000 in the past four years.

Last year alone, over 400,000 veterans who received mental health treatment had a diagnosis of PTSD, Batten said. Among troops still in the military, officials estimate 1 in 5 has suffered acute stress, anxiety, depression or other mental problems from a war zone deployment.

Some 2.3 million men and women have served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past decade. The apps are among the latest ideas by a government still struggling to prevent, treat and more fully understand the mental health problems that have ballooned over that time.

In a vast and unprecedented wartime effort that has struggled to keep up with troop needs, the government in recent years has increased mental health screening, hired more psychiatric staff, sent mental health survey teams directly to the battlefields, launched new research and started or bolstered myriad programs from suicide prevention to resilience training to family counseling. They’ve promoted the efforts with booklets, boot camp training, interactive websites, social media, call-in phone lines and more.

Still, some troops complain that there isn’t enough help. And others simply won’t go for psychological treatment. Up to half of soldiers in the most recent battlefield survey said they feared it would make them appear weak to buddies and their leaders.

Defense officials in 2008 set up the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, known as T2, to look at leveraging technology against the mental health problems.

“The Defense Department is doing something different, is doing everything, to try and reach the audience instead of trying to simply put out a better-looking brochure,” T2 spokesman Joseph S. Jimenez said of the apps and other initiatives started at the T2 center in Fort Lewis, Wash. “Some people don’t respond to a better brochure, some people don’t respond to being told to go to the doctor.”

Aside from the anonymity, the apps virtually put into the pockets of troops a tool that today’s young, tech-savvy force can relate to.

“They like portable technology and they are very much into gaming and smartphones,” Jimenez said.

As The Blaze reported back in June, the use of smartphones for mental health issues comes amid a larger military effort to incorporate them more on the battlefield. For instance, the Army is testing several iPhones, Androids and computer tablet devices to allow more troops in battle to see real-time images of insurgents taken by drone aircraft.

“Like the old adage about having to fish where the fish are, using online media to reach an online generation will be worth it even if it just helps one veteran,” Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said of the phone apps.

Just how many troops and vets are being reached — and helped — is hard to know.

Because of the anonymity, there is little feedback on the program that started last summer with MoodTracker. But officials said they plan to find volunteers in the future to help with a study on the program’s effectiveness.

For now, what’s known is that MoodTracker was downloaded about 17,000 times since it was introduced. Since PTSD Coach was released in May, it has been downloaded about 11,000 times in 37 countries, including Mexico, Latvia and Japan.

Although the app is particularly tailored to the needs of active-duty troops and veterans, some users may also be PTSD sufferers with no military background. Officials believe it‘s likely some are civilians who’ve had other types of trauma, such as from physical or sexual assaults, car accidents or natural disasters.

Comments (25)

  • myway
    Posted on December 29, 2011 at 9:49am

    Since the Vietnam War over 100,000 Veterans committed suicide.

    Report Post » myway  
  • Verum Ad Potentia
    Posted on July 30, 2011 at 3:42am

    …and when the government starts tracking your information without your knowledge or consent, & uses this data to, oh, say, deny you a CC Permit or fire-arm? Then what?

    Think I’m being paranoid? Research the numerous court decisions saying police can track you via your cell phone movements w/o a Warrent, or the CA decision saying the police in CA can take & look through your phone w/o a Warrent.

    Report Post » Verum Ad Potentia  
  • threedoor
    Posted on July 29, 2011 at 1:36am

    As a combat vet in the Iraq theatre I know full well that very few modern vets have PTSD. Most of them just fake it for the 50% VA dissability as most sldiers are in it for the money. Sure I get a bit jumpy around bottle rockets (some sound like 6omm mortars) but its NOT PTSD. PTSD is ******** unless you were a Marine in Falujia, an infantry grunt in Vietnam or an Operator.

    Grow a spine boys.

    Report Post » threedoor  
    • seacoastma
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 10:45am

      I agree Threedoor: PTSD has become a “fashion statement” sponsored by the VA for these Iraq/Afgan Vets. True, their are some who are deserving but, don’t give me two/three tours and then all of a sudden claim PTSD.
      I’ll take nothing away from these vets however, Vietnam was a whole different ball game as was prior wars. Being a former CWO Assault Helicopter Pilot in Nam (Tay Nihn) would give these boys a real flavor for what our grunts went threw being shot at 24/7. And they didn’t have Humvees.

      Report Post »  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 4:00pm

      My son is on his 3rd deployment to Iraq. We have had the chance to sit and talk away from our wives. I am not sure if coming into a hot LZ is any more frightening that waiting for an IED. I love helicopter pilots. You have industrial grade clangers. I don’t know how you did what you did.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • Verum Ad Potentia
      Posted on July 30, 2011 at 3:57am

      Dear Threedoor, not all PTSD is from combat, & yes, there are folks out there with PTSD that have never seen a war zone. Thank you for your service.

      Report Post » Verum Ad Potentia  
    • kyriahelpsvets
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 1:37pm

      Grow a spine? We place Service Dogs with Vets and Active Duty service members with PTSD and TBI. Although there may be a few people faking it – the majority of victims (and it is not only war vets but police, rape and violent crime etc) are living lives that are pure hell. I recommend you do some research on this subject before giving such a blanket statement. helpkyria.com

      Report Post »  
    • FullTilted
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:40am

      Agree 100%… People use this as a crutch point blank.

      Report Post »  
  • jeffyfreezone
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 11:10am

    I hope this will help them. I pray every night that the Good Lord will make the bad memories fade and their good memories shine for those military suffering from this. Also that He will wrap them in His loving embrace, and help them find happines, comfort, love and joy. I mention Marcus and Jeremiah by name.

    Report Post »  
  • huckleberry, 1 ea.
    Posted on July 28, 2011 at 7:48am

    good start….now make an app for the spouses, too!

    Report Post »  
  • mrsmileyface
    Posted on July 27, 2011 at 9:32pm

    To add to what I posted… so would a stupid phone app help in that situation? If you tried it you would be one dead sucker.

    Report Post » mrsmileyface  
  • mrsmileyface
    Posted on July 27, 2011 at 9:29pm

    Poor Rose I pity your ignorance on PTSD. Heres a thought for you. Your husband or wife returned from combat over a year ago. One night the 2 of you go to bed. It seems like a peacefull nights rest untill you wake up to find your spouse with a 10 in combat blade gently placed across your throat. You dont dare scream out because if you do you will surely get your throat slit and possibly die. You gently talk your spouse awake and out of his/her dream to find out that they were dreaming about killing some Arab that was shooting at them in the combat arena. That Rose is PTSD. or at least one form of it.

    Report Post » mrsmileyface  
    • FullTilted
      Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:49am

      Umm that is a negative ghost rider. This is something that occurs only when a soldier can’t think for himself or herself. Come on that the same as someone serving time in a maximum security prison gets out and does the same to his wife, kids, dog, etc. Same rule applies – not a real deal. Same goes for those who have ADD or ADHD, if this was a true statement what did the doctors diagnose for people that had this during the 1900-1990? Believing that only Physiological is the ones that put a label on this. Plus most Vets that claim this just want attention. War is something we are bred for, deal with it or don’t join the service. Vietnam vets have more clout!

      Report Post »  
  • Battledoc
    Posted on July 27, 2011 at 5:46pm

    As a Marine combat corpsman, I am more then familiar with ptsd and it’s effects. We lost more vets after the war then during from stress, suicide etc. Anything that helps this returning generation and others has my vote. Let’s not repeat our past mistakes again.

    Report Post »  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on July 27, 2011 at 12:48pm

    Thank God there is help for the soldiers now. I cannot even begin to imagine what they have been through. My heart breaks for the Vietnam veterans who suffered in silence.

    Report Post »  
  • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
    Posted on July 27, 2011 at 8:24am

    “Aside from the anonymity, the apps virtually put into the pockets of troops a tool that today’s young, tech-savvy force can relate to.”

    I doubt the information will stay anonymous for long. We already know that some smart phones keep detailed information that law enforcement thinks they have a right to download when they pull you over.

    See here.

    Your Phone, Yourself — When Is Tracking Too Much?
    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/your-phone-yourself-when-is-tracking-too-much/

    And here.

    Mich. Cops Can Now Steal Your Cell Phone Data — ‘Without the Owner Knowing’
    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/mich-cops-can-now-steal-your-cell-phone-data-without-the-owner-knowing/

    Report Post »  
  • loriann12
    Posted on July 27, 2011 at 7:25am

    As a PTSD sufferer, I think this is great. Mine is not battle related, but I have received therapy and breathing techniques work. If this helps our soldiers, I’m all for it. Way to use technology in a good way.

    Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 27, 2011 at 8:52am

      So everytime they want to lash out at a muslim garbed person in the streets of aamerica ,they get feed back telling them not to !PTSD-euyphimism for anger at the fact that they were manipulated with genocidal fantasies[turning the place into a parking lot-good versus evil star wars scenario] into signing up to murder those they were programmed by the government/media to hate;once they got their they could not commit genocide and now feel manipulated when they walk american streets and realize muslims [who they were programmed by the right] to believe were pure evil ]are free and they will be hit with a hate crime if they lay a hand on one.They are angry at their gullibility and that they are indeed manipulated gulls every time a muslim freely walks down the street.Hence PTSD= anger they can’t murder even more then they already did[if there were justice they'd propobly be on trial for crimes against humanity -the lot of them] these american terrorists whining cause they had visions of genocide dancing in the manipulated minds that they can’t actualize!

       
    • Erabin
      Posted on July 27, 2011 at 10:42am

      Rose, would you please start using paragraphs? This, combined with your spelling errors, make for an almost unreadable word jumble.

      Report Post »  
    • Venomusmc
      Posted on July 27, 2011 at 10:46am

      @ Rose-Ellen
      PTSD isn’t all about wanting to “lash out at Muslims”. Now your apparent misunderstanding of PTSD shows that you’ve been manipulated by your pure ignorance of the subject.
      You think PTSD is all about a person feeling “manipulated” by the government to go “murder’ people? Clearly you‘ve never been in the military or seen what it’s really like overseas. I personally do not get angry when I see a muslim walk down the street. I do not feel manipulated or taken advantage of. Everyone in the military is a volunteer.
      Your the one that has been manipulated by some sick fantasy of war. If you really think every person is over there killing Iraq/Afghanis your mistaken. There are many that simply sit on base doing electrical work and other ‘pog” jobs. Now if we want to talk trials and justice why don’t I take you with me back to Sangin. There I will watch as we let you freely walk through that area trying to talk with these people. Don’t worry we will all get a video of what happened to you and justice will apparently have been served when they give you a trial.
      You have zero clue of the subject matter and want to sit back being the judge.

      Report Post »  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on July 27, 2011 at 12:52pm

      Rose Ellen: have you posted any of your crap on the article about the fatwa in defense of pedophilia marriage yet?

      Report Post »  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on July 29, 2011 at 4:07pm

      Rose Ellen

      I hope that you never go where the metal hits the meat. But, if you do, I hope the nightmares come.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  

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