U.S.
troops fighting in Afghanistan are experiencing some of the greatest
psychological stress and lowest morale in five years of fighting, reports a
military study.
"We're
an Army that's in uncharted territory here," said Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army
vice chief of staff, who has focused on combat stress.
Mental
health strain was most severe among veterans of three or more deployments, with
a third of those showing signs of psychological problems defined as either
stress, depression or anxiety, the report obtained by USA Today says.
The
research, based on a survey of soldiers and Marines in 2010, says decline in
individual morale is significant: 46.5 percent of troops said they had medium,
high or very high morale, compared with 65.7 percent who said that in 2005. USA
Today The
report said a third of the veterans with three or more deployments to
Afghanistan show signs of stress, depression or anxiety.
UPI Half or
more of those surveyed said they had killed the enemy, and 75 percent-80 percent
described the death or wounding of a buddy. Half also said that an improvised
explosive device detonated within 55 yards while they were on foot patrol. The
study's researchers also found evidence of physical wear-and-tear with a third
of the force experiencing chronic pain. USA Today The
report also found that while mental health staffing has doubled in Afghanistan
since 2009, many troops are fighting too far from the facilities to seek help.
Truth Out
According to an Army survey conducted in July 2009, soldiers in
combat units said deployment had a direct effect on family life -- 16.5 percent
faced divorce or separation. Nextgov Just
over half of all veterans' post-deployment health visits address lingering pain
in their backs, necks, knees or shoulders said Dr. Stephen Hunt, national
director of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Post Deployment Integrative
Care Initiative. Myhealthnewsdaily Of the
289,328 veterans who entered Veteran's Affair healthcare from 2002 to 2008,
nearly 37% had mental health problems, including post traumatic stress disorder
(about 22%) and depression (roughly 17%). Guardian A 2010
June study in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry found that one in 10
Iraq war vets develop serious mental problems, including violent behavior,
depression and alcohol abuse. Myhealthnewsdaily In 2010,
more than 134,000 people made calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Of those callers, 61 percent identified themselves as veterans.
News.medill Figures
released by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010 show a dramatic increase
in suicide among veterans aged 18 to 29 years old, due in large part to multiple
deployments and the overall stress of combat. Truth-out
HJ/SM/MMN
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