300,000 US Troops Have Depression, PTSD Symptoms
A new study released on the 17th April put the number of US military personnel returning home from deployment in Afghanistan or Iraq with symptoms of either depression or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) at around 300,000. About 150,000, said the same report, are given no subsequent care.
Brain Injuries
The report was carried out by the RAND Corps, which wrote of how up to a further 320,000 soldiers had experienced possible injury to the brain whilst on tours of duty. The report, however, could not specify, of these, how many were serious cases or how many needed treatment.
Stress, Depression from Iraq, Afghanistan Deployments
The study has been described as the first significant survey of US troops’ mental health in which the government had not been involved. It found that, of the 1.5 million plus US military personnel that have been sent to serve in Afghanistan or Iraq, 18.5 per cent are affected by PTSD or depression.
US Army Study
Such figures are broadly equivalent to the results gleaned during previous assessments. Two months ago, the US Army released its own study which found that, during 2007, 17.9 per cent of US soldiers serving in one of the two countries were suffering from depression, anxiety or deep stress. This 17.9 per cent represented a drop from the previous year, in which 19.1 per cent was recorded.
However, the RAND study – which extends to 500 pages – reported that just half of the 18.5 per cent were provided with care.
"There is a major health crisis facing those men and women who have served our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan", RAND researcher Terri Tanielian stated.
"Unless they receive appropriate and effective care for these mental health conditions, there will be long-term consequences for them and for the nation."
Mental Conditions
The report said that a lot of military personnel avoid seeking treatment, believing that their careers could suffer if they are associated with mental conditions.
PTSD can set in after the sufferer has experienced battle trauma - watching colleagues die or receive injuries, for examples. Among its symptoms are insomnia, concentration lapses, an exaggerated response mechanism and angry outbursts.
In the report, RAND called on the government to develop means through which US military personnel could receive mental care in a confidential manner.
Source – Armed Forces International’s US Correspondent
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