300,000 vets have mental problem, 320,000 had brain injuries

[funjumper101 15]

The medical care for these brave people is part of the three TRILLION dollar estimate of the true cost of the Iraq invasion and occupation. I would be delighted to have my taxes raised to ensure that they get the best possible care.

Associated Press story >>>

Some 300,000 U.S. troops are suffering from major depression or post traumatic stress from serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and 320,000 received brain injuries, a new study estimates.

Only about half have sought treatment, said the study released Thursday by the RAND Corporation.

"There is a major health crisis facing those men and women who have served our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Terri Tanielian, the project's co-leader and a researcher at the nonprofit RAND.

"Unless they receive appropriate and effective care for these mental health conditions, there will be long-term consequences for them and for the nation," she said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The 500-page study is the first large-scale, private assessment of its kind — including a survey of 1,965 service members across the country, from all branches of the armed forces and including those still in the military as well veterans who have left the services.

Its results appear consistent with a number of mental health reports from within the government, though the Defense Department has not released the number of people it has diagnosed or who are being treated for mental problems. The Department of Veterans Affairs said this month that its records show about 120,000 who served in the two wars and are no longer in the military have been diagnosed with mental health problems. Of the 120,000, approximately 60,000 are suffering from PTSD, the VA said.

Veterans Affairs is responsible for care of service members after they have left the service, while the Defense Department covers active duty and reservist needs. The lack of information from the Pentagon was one motivation for the RAND study, Tanielian said.

The most prominent and detailed military study on mental health that is released is the Army's survey of soldiers at the warfront. Officials said last month that it's most recent one, done last fall, found 18.2 percent of soldiers suffered a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety or acute stress in 2007 compared with 20.5 percent the previous year.

The Rand study, completed in January, put the percentage of PTSD and depression at 18.5 percent, calculating that approximately 300,000 current and former service members were suffering from those problems at the time of its survey, which was completed in January.

The figure is based on Pentagon data showing over 1.6 million military personnel have deployed to the conflicts since the war in Afghanistan began in late 2001.

RAND researchers also found:

_About 19 percent — or some 320,000 services members — reported that they experienced a possible traumatic brain injury while deployed. In wars where blasts from roadside bombs are prevalent, the injuries can range from mild concussions to severe head wounds.

_About 7 percent reported both a probable brain injury and current PTSD or major depression.

_Only 43 percent reported ever being evaluated by a physician for their head injuries.

_Only 53 percent of service members with PTSD or depression sought help over the past year.

_They gave various reasons for not getting help, including that they worried about the side effects of medication; believe family and friends could help them with the problem, or that they feared seeking care might damage their careers.

_Rates of PTSD and major depression were highest among women and reservists.

The report is titled "Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery." It was sponsored by a grant from the California Community Foundation and done by 25 researchers from RAND Health and the RAND National Security Research Division, which also has done does work under contracts with the Pentagon and other defense agencies as well as allied foreign governments and foundations.

[Skyrad 0]

Hardly suprising. Iwonder how many Iraqis are suffering from PTSD. No winners.

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Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[funjumper101 15]

A profound silence from the righties... pretty much says it all.

[kallend 1,646]

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A profound silence from the righties... pretty much says it all.

No - the righties have a monopoly on supporting the troops. You see it on their bumper stickers and magnetic "ribbons" every day.

Those of us who want to bring the troops home are anti-troop.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Amazon 7]

It sure would be nice if they supported the troops that come home all used up and in need of V A help for the rest of their lives.

I get the feeling the right does not support them as they should be... I mean that was part of the contract that the veterans signed.

[funjumper101 15]

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A profound silence from the righties... pretty much says it all.

The righties still don't have anything to say.

Why is this so hard to answer?

Does it make your heads hurt to think in realistic terms?

The question is -

Do you support raising taxes to provide the best possible medical care for the veterans of the events in Afghanistan and the Iraq invasion and occupation?

A YES or NO answer.

YES = We should raise taxes specifically for the care of the veterans from the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.

NO = We should not raise taxes specifically for the care of the veterans from the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.

Either you are willing to support he troops, for real, or you are not. Which is it?

Put your money where your mouth is, one way or the other.

I suggest a 5 cent per gallon fuel tax for all petroleum based fuels. That seems very appropriate as the pain will be shared by everyone.

[jcd11235 0]

I would have to vote no. The veterans from OIF/OEF are no more or less deserving of care than any other veterans. I wouldn't support any taxes that only offered relief to that subset of veterans.

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[Amazon 7]

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Either you are willing to support he troops, for real, or you are not. Which is it?

Hey they signed on the dotted line when they volunteered. Didnt they know something can happen to you when you go to war???












No bitching.....is what they constantly tell us from the far right wing.. right??

[pbwing 0]

Jesus, I have a hard enough time taking the pets for their annual check ups...when they read this, I hardly blame them...

Oh...

Different kind of vet...my bad