Alumnus Robert Marietta, MD, '13MPH Publishes Book on Military Mental Health
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Public health practice alumnus Robert Marietta, MD, ‘13MPH, has published a new book examining military mental health from someone who has served inside the system.
Reflections of a Military Psychiatrist 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.
Marietta has spent his career serving as a psychiatrist in the military and Veterans Affairs. He earned a commission through the Navy and his MD from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He completed a Navy psychiatry residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and then served with the 3d Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. After leaving the Navy, Marietta joined the Public Health Service and has served on active duty since, earning his MPH in public health practice from the University of Massachusetts Amherst along the way. He has provided care for tens of thousands of service members, their families, and veterans. He is passionate about the military and mental health.
Reflections of a Military Psychiatrist is intended for anyone interested in military mental health, mental health advocacy, policy makers, or anyone who works with veterans. It is published by Koehler Books and available through Amazon and other major retailers.