Post-War Suicides May Exceed Combat Deaths

At the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting in Washington, Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., told reporters ``it's quite possible that the suicides and psychiatric mortality of this war could trump the combat deaths."

He referred to an April 2008 study by the Rand Corporation that found that almost 20 percent of US veterans back from Iraq and Afghanistan have symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression. Only a little more than half, however, have sought treatment. 1.6 million troops have so far served in those two wars.

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Comments

[example1]

Our troops are in a very difficult and traumatic situation, given the nature of the warfare. They are constantly vigalent and this takes a tremendous toll on the body. The consequences can be psychologically devistating even without experiencing the death of a friend or a near-death experience for oneself. Those who witness war first hand understandably have an experience that most cannot understand.

Our country lacks an understanding about all forms of traumatic life experiences. Growing up in chronic extreme poverty, around domestic violence or neglect, carries with it long term consequences that the "bootstraps" crowd completely ignore, but which is absolutely backed up by research in neurology and biology. Brains develop and adapt quickly based on trauma and fear, and special care should be taken to help those who struggle with PTSD because they simply many cannot, and should not have to, get out of it alone.

Obama is right that our country has an "empathy gap" and the lack of sold services for Veterans who serve this country so bravely.

[MikeDu]

I recall reading a recent British report saying it took more than 25 years but suicides among Faulklands War veteran finally passed actual war casualties. And the Faulklands war was a relatively quick operation. By one report approx. 1000 veterans a month are succumbing to war-related despair and attempting suicide. Anecdotal evidence suggests 'weekend warriors' who were drafted as MPs into mistreating and torturing prisoners are suffering the most. We'll see this problem for another 30 years.