by Robert Marietta (Author)
Much has been written about military mental health, but nothing has done the issue justice. Accounts from those on the inside of the system are missing.
Reflections of a Military Psychiatrist is a deep dive into the world of military mental health. The book provides a rare, powerful account from the perspective of a career military psychiatrist who served across multiple branches, including the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Veterans Affairs. It offers an account of serving as a military mental health provider at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth from 2019 to 2022, including the events leading up to and surrounding the USS George Washington and Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center suicide clusters. Marietta examines the inspector general suicide cluster reports from the perspective of a military mental health provider.
Reflections of a Military Psychiatrist discusses common military mental health issues and the impact they have on service members and the organization. Marietta describes similar toxic maltreatment his patients faced and his efforts to obtain justice. Firsthand accounts, stories of recovery from veterans, lessons learned, and practical recommendations for reform are discussed, including strategies to establish a safe channel for those afflicted, reducing stigma and negative consequences for getting help.