Defense Forces Reach Out to Troubled Soldiers
The Defense Forces are expanding their psychological support network for soldiers, having begun training amateur counselors on Wednesday, reported ETV.
The Estonian military has six psychologists, all at the master's degree level. To open in January, the new support center will help the military keep an eye on who needs help.
For foreign missions, commanders will continue to determine whether an on-site psychologist is needed.
Nine Estonian infantrymen have been killed in Afghanistan and many more wounded since the mission began in 2003.
There have also been several suicides that have reached the media, the latest case involving a professional, active duty serviceman who was found dead in a forest in August. That man had not received professional psychological help from the military. The Defense Forces have commissioned the Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute to analyze the case.
Andrei Vesterinen, a young veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan three years ago, talked to ETV about how he was given psychological counseling during his treatment in the UK.
"At first, I was distrustful, but each time I began to gain trust because [he or she] had combat experience, which is very important for a psychologist in my opinion," said Vesterinen. "I really hope that the state won't forget its soldiers when the war in Afghanistan finally ends.”
Ott Tammik