Child Identity Theft is on the Rise
Some ways to be vigilant about protecting your child's information
from daveramsey.com on 28 Sep 2011
Easy Targets
That’s one of the reasons identity thieves are more likely to target children. Most people don’t find out about their child’s identity theft until the child applies for college loans or scholarships. Children also have clean credit reports, so thieves don’t have to know a lot of personal information like age or address. Usually just a child’s Social Security number will do the trick.Thieves may sell a child’s number over and over. Other times, a person will create a Social Security number and use it to rack up debt years before the child is even born and is assigned that number. Sadly, some children’s identities are also compromised by family members.
Be Vigilant
Guard your child’s personal information the same way you protect your own:- Don’t carry your child’s Social Security number with you, and always ask why you need to provide their number when it’s requested on paperwork.
- Teach your child to protect their private information by notifying you when they’re asked for Social Security numbers or passwords online.
- If your child receives credit offers in the mail or gets calls from debt collectors, don’t assume it’s a mistake. Check your child’s credit report to see if any fraudulent accounts have been opened in their name.
With “data spills” putting thousands more people at risk of ID theft every day, this isn’t a problem that’s going away anytime soon. Don’t wait until you or your child are victimized. Take action now to protect your whole family.
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Depression
By Paula Domenici, PhD
Head, Division of Training Programs
Depression is one of the world’s top public health problems, and it affects approximately 7% to 12% of men and 20% to 25% of women across their lifetime (Kessler, 2003). While depression may not be commonly associated with traumatic experiences such as combat, rates of depression in our servicemen and women are not insignificant. Hoge et al., (2004) found rates between 14% and 15% in soldiers and Marines 3 to 4 months after deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. These findings are consistent with the rate of 14% identified in individuals after they had served in Iraq or Afghanistan (RAND Report, 2008). Some military personnel struggle with depression irrespective of a deployment. In veterans seeking care at VA hospitals, depression presents at an even higher rate -- about 25% -- either alone or along with conditions like PTSD and substance use (OIF & OEF Deployment Roster, VA Healthcare, 2008).
In the wake of these findings, identification of depressive disorders in the military is crucial. Following the guide, SIGECAPS (VHA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of MDD, 2000), is a simple yet effective strategy to begin assessing for depression. Check if an individual has 5 or more of the following symptoms for at least 2 weeks (one must be depressed mood or decreased interest):
- Sleep (increased or decreased)
- Interests (decreased) and /or Depressed mood
- Guilt
- Energy (decreased)
- Concentration (decreased)
- Appetite (increased or decreased)
- Psychomotor changes (increased or decreased)
- Suicidal thoughts
The 2-item Primary Care Evaluation (PRIME MD) is a basic screen for depression whose items are part of the military’s longer Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) and Post-Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHA). These two items are also asked as part of initial screenings at VA hospitals. Endorsement of one of the two items denotes “positive”, warranting referral for further evaluation. Following a “positive” PRIME MD finding, the PHQ-9 Symptom Checklist (9 items) is commonly used. This easy-to-score test is available in the public domain. The Center for Epidemiological Studies (20 items), Beck Depression Inventory (21 items), Zung Depression Scale (20 items) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17 to 31 items) are other depression instruments with good psychometric properties. While somatic complaints are not traditionally assessed by such measures, regard them as possible indicators of depression, especially with military personnel.
A thorough suicide risk assessment should be conducted carefully if an individual endorses suicidal ideation. Take into account these military suicide risks based on the acronym, SADPERSONS (www.PDHealth.mil):
- Sex: Males more likely to kill themselves than females by more than 3 to 1
- Age: 20-24 years old highest risk
- Depression: Precedes suicide 70% of the time
- Previous Attempts: Most completed on 1st or 2nd attempt
- Ethanol Use: Substance abuse increases risk of suicide completion
- Rational Thinking Loss: Profound cognitive slowing, distorted perceptions, psychotic depression
- Social Support: Relationship or job loss, legal difficulties or illness that cause social withdrawal
- Organized Plan: A specific plan and means
- No Spouse: May be cause or result of depression, especially within one year of divorce
- Sickness: Comorbid medical illnesses
It also is important to flesh out overlap between PTSD and depression since they share many symptoms in common, such as sleep disturbance, anhedonia and irritability. Reexperiencing symptoms like flashbacks and physiological reactions to triggers can distinguish PTSD from depression. At the same time, comorbidity rates of PTSD and depression are high, so both conditions may be present.
Efforts are underway in the Army to screen more rigorously for depression and PTSD in Primary Care clinics through a program called, Re-Engineering Systems-Based Intervention for Primary Care and Treatment of Depression in US Army Personnel (RESPECT-Mil). This initiative emerged from the recognition that soldiers are more likely to go to their PC doctor than a mental health provider. Approximately 90% of service members typically have one or more visits in PC clinics per year, which provides the opportunity for medical staff to identify depression and intervene early and for the service member to face reduced stigma. Collaborative efforts between PC and mental health clinics in both military and veteran hospitals are on the rise to combat depression.
Fortunately, depression is a treatable disorder. Empirically-validated treatments recognized by the VHA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of MDD (2000) comprise of cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, marital therapy, and medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapies and interpersonal therapy have received the strongest research support in terms of effectiveness. The combination of psychotherapy and medication, when needed, has been shown to be effective for treating depression. No anti-depressant medication has been shown to better than another in efficacy or time to respond, however, and service members may be hesitant to take it. The benefits of problem-solving therapy and exercise in reducing depressive symptoms have been demonstrated. The brief, directive nature of these strategies and cognitive-behavioral approaches, in general, are especially helpful for treating depression in the military culture.
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