Mental Illness In The Military On The Rise

(CBS)  Mental health disorders are snowballing as more and more soldiers and Marines are sent back for repeat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

According to the Pentagon's latest mental health survey, 31 percent of Marines, 38 percent of soldiers and 49 percent of the National Guard reported psychological symptoms such as anger, depression or alcohol abuse after returning home. As the director of the survey said, combat stress is not something you just get over.

"It may manifest and change their lives forever. These are men and women who have undergone experiences that are unlike anything else in humankind," Vice Adm. Donald Arthur said.

For wounded soldiers like Staff Sgt. Daniel Shannon, post-traumatic stress disorder adds insult to their injuries.

"I started smashing furniture, very rapidly; so fast I didn't know what I was doing 'til it happened. I'd get mad so fast, so angry, and just lash out," Shannon said.

Shannon is at least willing to talk about it.

The survey says the stigma attached to mental illness in the military "remains pervasive and often prevents service members from seeking needed care."

The stigma is one barrier to treatment. Another is that the military doesn't have enough mental health professionals — not even for peacetime, much less war.

According to the survey, there have been "dramatic decreases in the number of military health professionals" since the war started.

And perhaps the most damning finding: The Pentagon "currently lacks both funding and personnel to adequately support the psychological health of service members and their families."

"We concentrate a great deal on physical health; that is, how fast can you run a mile, how many sit-ups and push-ups can you do. But we don't often concentrate on the psychological health of the service member," Arthur said.

The Army now has about 500 health professionals and plans to hire another 100. But there are about 1 million men and women who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

[tantrim]

Only the Americans have mental illness fighting in Iraq? What about the insurgents are they mentally better able to withstand the elements of fighting in the hot desert conditions. Everytime we have to fight in a conflict we have a bunch of soldiers with an assortment of ills.

[dchupp1]

Our elected leaders could have better oversight on present and future military decisions if the american citizen came first. The majority have always looked out for their "JOB"( getting election) first. Second is loyality to their own polical party. The concern for the average citizen is last unless it is an election year.

I have always said pay attention to whom you elect to congress since congress has the power of overriding almost anything the president wants to do. It is easier to blame the president than to accept responsibility.

[gunownerdan]

Just wait until millions of Mexicans are given amnesty so they can be recruited into the military. Then we won't have to worry about our troops so much anymore, right Bushtards?

[grammawhamma]

sandy19731 How dare you tell me or anyone to remove "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" signs etc!! No one likes war...do you you see signs in people's yards saying "support our war"?? NO you don't. You better be *** grateful to the troops that are there...because if they wouldn't have volunteered to be in the military your sorry butt might have been drafted.

[cattlekate]

It would be nice if the FIVE straping, healthy Romney boys and the Bush twins signed up to give these soldiers a rest.

[gdod25]

US out of Iraq.

[photogeezer]

The Bush administration is guilty of extreme political cowardice. To claim this "war on terror" is tantamount to WWII in importance and not institute the draft is cowardly, typical of chicken hawks.

It seems that they bet right that they would get little to no opposition to going to war as long as it was other people's kids who had to bear the burden. They bet that the antics of the latest celebrity trollop would get more attention than the mess into which we have put these decent, trusting young people.

Of course, they're angry. If anything, this war is worse. No one ever told me I'd have to go back to 'Nam once I served my one year.

The men of military age (they're taking them as old as 42) are not signing up. The kids of Senators and fat cat Repubs are not signing up. They don't believe their own rhetoric. How do they expect us to?

[justrains]

This has been going on since George W. Bush was allowed to take the oath to become an Officer and again when he took oath to become President. Bush won't allow more money for mental health. He's afraid that his mental health problems will become public.

[formrusmcsgt]

We all know war is horrible but I am really dissapointed in Americans that say we should not have gone to war. We should never allow other countries to terrorize us, if we did not fight back we would be considered a WEAK country and give them the balls to attack us again.
Posted by Lifiswhtumak at 11:50 AM : Jun 16, 2007

Would you be kind enough to post the place(s) and date(s)of Iraq's attacks on the US?

Unless you can offer something along those lines, your post is absolutely senseless.

[lifiswhtumak]

We all know war is horrible but I am really dissapointed in Americans that say we should not have gone to war. We should never allow other countries to terrorize us, if we did not fight back we would be considered a WEAK country and give them the balls to attack us again. Bush made a statement for all Americans to leave our Family and freinds alone, or we will fight back and I am proud of that. I don't agree with the lenght of the war but I still support Bush.

As for our Troops: They made the choice to join the Military (thank God for that), we didnt have a draft, no one was forced, yes it is very unfortunate that they are suffering mentally and some are physically, but that is not our Presidents fault, the soilders want to defend our country and are very proud to do so. Now to show our appreciation to all the soilders, we need to support them when they return and help them mentally as much as possible.

My Father was in the Vietnam War and he was very mentally and physically abusive, I have forgiven him because of his mental state, but I feel it is very important that we help the soilders so the abuse does not get taken out on their children. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND THANK YOU!