Hidden Toll of the War In Iraq. Mental Health and the Military

by Stephen L. Robinson

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The alarming number of suicides earlier this year among U.S. troops serving in
Iraq has raised a red flag about the mental strain on our service men and women
as they face grueling battles and a conflict with no clear end in sight. These
suicides are only the most visible manifestation of the rising mental health
toll from the Iraq war and other U.S. combat operations abroad. Studies indicate
that troops who served in Iraq are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder
and other problems brought on by their experiences on a scale not seen since
Vietnam.

These figures have mental health professionals and veterans groups worried, and with good reason. At a time when our troops are working hard to answer the nation’s call, their own needs remain unmet. Barriers to mental health care persist both in the field and at home, leaving mental health problems to fester.

The personal burden on troops affected by mental trauma and on their families is enormous, and these mental health problems have consequences for communities and the nation as well. The full extent of this hidden cost of war will not be apparent for some years to come, but experts believe it may involve tens of thousands of service members. Preparing for the challenge at hand and extending the appropriate care and respect to our troops must be a top priority.

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=186881