Mental care stays are up in military

[IScreamSundays]

Source: USAToday

WASHINGTON — Mental health disorders caused more hospitalizations among U.S. troops in 2009 than any other reason according to medical data released recently by the Pentagon. This historic high reflects the growing toll of nearly nine years of war.
Last year was the first in which hospitalizations for mental disorders outpaced those for injuries or pregnancies in the 15 years of tracking by the Pentagon's Medical Surveillance Monthly report.

Hospitalizations for mental disorders have increased significantly among troops since 2005, said Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, surgeon general for the Army. "War is difficult. It takes a toll," he said.

Mental health treatment expenses are helping drive up the overall cost of military health care, USA TODAY reported last month. Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a speech that "health care costs are eating the Defense Department alive." Schoomaker said the Army's increased attention to mental health issues is another reason for the rise in hospital admittances.

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Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-05-14-mental-health_N.htm

[RKP5637]

1. These damn wars are ridiculous, but I guess the profits are good for some. It seems

about 9 years of war by now should be sufficient, but I guess as long as there is money to be made. It's no wonder this country runs on IOUs. IMO more than the solders have mental health issues, I think a lot of politicians need treatment too.

[lib2DaBone]

2. At least as long as they are in the military.. they have a bed...

..once they are released into civilian status.. there is ZERO support for mental health.

Out Legislators LOVE to make war.. but they HATE to deal with the consequences...

[elias49]

3. Feelings of abject guilt, perhaps? nt

[gateley]

4. If "health care costs are eating

the Defense Department alive" then stop the wars NOW -- they're eating our service people alive. :cry:

I'm glad more people are getting help, and that the army has increased attention to mental health issues.

Honestly, wtf do they expect? Serving in one tour would be horrific enough, but to send them into that hell again and again... Stop it!

[RKP5637]

5. Yeah, that's what I say too, WTF. The solution is easy enough, as you said, stop

sending them to hell over and over again. But many citizens will get out their little flags and wave it for war, never having served in the military and often being far from the consequences...

If we still had the draft a lot of people would be screaming about these two wars, but now for many Americans it's out of sight, out of mind. Hell, not even significant enough to be covered regularly by the media. Often I think this place is so ridiculous. I thought we had learned our lesson after Vietnam, but no, I guess never. New generations and forgotten memories.

[gateley]

6. Seriously -- I thought we'd learn from VietNam, too -- we surely

couldn't be that stupid again! But this time it was about oil (and you'll never convince me otherwise) so they must have viewed it as being 'different'. Iraq, anyway. Don't ask me what the hell we're doing in Afghanistan. If hundreds and hundreds of years of defeats haven't made it obvious that nobody will EVER 'win' Afghanistan, then I guess we're beyond hope. I understand the bin Laden thing, but he's been gone for a while, yet there we sill are, sending in even more troops!