Panel: Military health system needs help

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - Many Iraq war soldiers, veterans and their families are not getting needed psychological help because a stressed military's mental health system is overwhelmed and understaffed, a task force of psychologists found.

The panel's 67-page report calls for the immediate strengthening of the military mental health system. It cites a 40 percent vacancy rate in active duty psychologists in the Army and Navy, resources diverted from family counselors and a weak transition for veterans leaving the military.

The findings were released Sunday by the American Psychological Association.

More than three out of 10 soldiers met the criteria for a "mental disorder," but far less than half of those in need sought help, the report found. Sometimes that's because of the stigma of having mental health problems, other times the help simply wasn't available, according to the task force. And there are special difficulties in getting help to National Guard and Reserve troops, who have been used heavily in Iraq, the report said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070225/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_mental_health

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Really

tell me more.....

God damnit none of us whoudl have known otherwise!

:sarcasm:

[Monkeyman]

2. Look at our report

Veterans for America at the link

[sarge43]

3. Wow. They just freakin' figure that out?! n/t