Wave of mental problems follows GIs home

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040511-023548-4111r

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 13 (UPI) -- Soldiers at Fort Carson report a wave of serious mental problems among troops back from the "war on terrorism," according to interviews with soldiers, their families and a therapist working with them.

The torment seems linked to troubling behavior -- including a suicide, violence and heavy drinking among a number of the 12,000 troops arriving back in Colorado Springs, nestled in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 60 miles south of Denver.

They say the Army frequently fails to diagnose or properly help suffering soldiers. In some cases -- particularly in elite fighting units -- soldiers hide problems fearing damage to their careers, turning instead to alcohol and sometimes resulting in domestic violence.

"The pattern I'm seeing is that they are not being evaluated very thoroughly," said Kaye Baron, a clinical psychologist in Colorado Springs. Baron treats soldiers in her private practice and helps the Department of Veterans Affairs evaluate the mental health of soldiers leaving the Army.

Baron said the Army is not properly diagnosing or treating soldiers who have mental problems. Instead, some are pushed out of the Army, making them feel worse.

more

[Lisa]

1. gee, I wonder why

Cutbacks of services for veterans and active personnel -- a self-serving war drummed up by a "Commander in Chief" who doesn't care "one bit" for the troops -- atrocious conditions and horrific violence ....

I suppose Bush will say he is totally shocked by this. Shocked, I say.

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. Bush will be not at all shocked. I was privvy to this conversation....

http://bushspeaks.com/home.asp?did=136

[physioex]

3. On that topic...

How many more McVeighs have we just manufactured? How many are waiting to come back and commit suicide? How many are going to abuse narcotics and alcohol? How many will come back and abuse their families? Besides coffins and money these are the real costs of war.

[vajraroshana]

4. War is hell and anguish

I don't think that these mental problems are unique to this war. We do have better treatments nowadays than in wars past. And our military personnel deserve much better, past and present.

Promising treatment options for PTSD, which it sounds like many of these returning are undergoing, are potentially available -- inluding some promising advances using MDMA (aka "ecstasy"); fat chance these most deserving individuals will get access to those treatment modalities.

We need new leadership. Now.

[leesa]

6. We have better treatment, but they have no benefits to receive that

treatment. You think you can just patch people up after they have been forced to commit crimes against humanity?

[vajraroshana]

7. Exactly...

it's like the old computer programmers' axiom: garbage in, garbage out.

[riverwalker]

5. In other words

sending young people to invade a non-threatening country, slaughter men, women and children for one year, is a unhealthy thing.
(and some people DIDN'T know this?) :shrug:

[TahitiNut]

8. The Army has a history of dumping its psychological casualties ...

... back "on the street." It was such quiet, unofficial, and silent "Section 8s" that kept PTSD unrecognized for so long. Just saving the taxpayers' money, that's all. :puke: