Testifying on Thursday before the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, called for improved mental health assessments, stronger privacy protections and a "buddy system" to help reduce the stigma among service members about seeking mental health care services, the AP/Washington Post reports. Approximately 38% of soldiers, 31% of Marines and 49% of National Guard members returning from combat abroad report psychological conditions such as brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Casscells testified that a plan introduced by Army Surgeon General Gail Pollock to hire 25% more mental health specialists could be difficult to accomplish because of problems with recruiting and retaining active-duty specialists. "We cannot hire 200 Army psychiatrists, which Gen. Pollock wants to do; we can't do that overnight," Casscells said, adding, "So we need everyone to reach out and look out for service members."

A task force chaired by U.S. Navy Surgeon General Donald Arthur last month submitted 95 recommendations to the Pentagon and Congress concerning mental health disorders in U.S. troops. Defense Secretary Robert Gates last month promised to address problems and asked that a corrective plan be finalized by mid-September. He also expressed his support for eliminating the practice of asking troops about prior mental health treatment when they apply for security clearance.

Casscells on Thursday said his team is reviewing recommendations and developing policy proposals for Gates to review. A presidential commission chaired by former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) and former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala is scheduled to release its findings and recommendations for improving health care for soldiers on July 25. The House and Senate also are considering a variety of legislative measures to improve military and veterans' health care (Yen, AP/Washington Post, 7/12).