Mental Health Problems for Iraq Vets

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

This is an article from the New Englans Journal of Medicine. It documents higher-than-expected rates of PTSD (nearly 18%), but what's more troubling is that only about 25% of those afflicted are getting professional help -- the sigma of mental illness, particularly among professional soldiers.

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/351/1/13.pdf

So in addition to the 1,800+ troops who have been killed in action, you can probably add at least as many who have PTSD so severe that they are unable to function in the civilian environment.

[...of J.Temperance]

1. I hate to have to comment this

But how many John Allen Muhammed's and Timothy McVeigh's is this going to possibly cause? Hundreds are going home with mental problems and they're not getting ANY professional help.

After Vietnam, they said they'd NEVER mess up another generation of young soldiers...and it took a bunch of Chickenhawks to mess up another generation of young soldiers.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

2. I hesitated to post this...

because of the "Crazy Vietnam Veteran" stereotype that clung for years. But these guys, for the most part, aren't professional soldiers. They're just normal citizens serving in the National Guard, and the military needs to provide adequate care.

[...of J.Temperance]

3. Sorry

I must have misread the article, I wasn't meaning to be hurtful by my Vietnam soldiers comments. If I could, I'd delete that part, but I'm not sure how to go about that.

But yes, those troops, the National Guard ones do need help and shame on the Military and shame on the politicians. At the drop of a hat they're spending like drunken sailors, and in a heartbeat they'll do another huge tax cut, but nothing for the troops who need help. It's outrageous.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. They've already cut VA Benefits...

You can bet that assistance for emotional disorders will be cut (if it hasn't been already). The treatment that our veterans are currently receiving -- all veterans and not just those from Iraq -- is positively shameful.

[ismnotwasm]

5. Yup

They are giving the soldiers raises, and cutting benefits when they get out. Really supportive of our troops, isn't it?

[...of J.Temperance]

7. Yet

The soldiers support the GOP by and large...or DO they?

[...of J.Temperance]

6. VA

They've cut a lot of hospitals as well, and I THINK I read that Junior wants to completely scrap Walter Reed, which is VERY sad and infuriating.

Junior, knowing what a Psychopath-Sociopath he is, probably just wishes they'd all die. He doesn't give a fuck, to him they're nothing, they're not part of his circle. The rat bastard.