Vassago
10-19-2007, 03:18 PM
The number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from the Department of Veterans Affairs jumped by nearly 20,000, almost 70 percent, in the 12 months ending June 30
More than 100,000 veterans, about one out of seven of those who have served and left active duty, have sought help for mental illness since late 2001, the start of the war in Afghanistan, according to VA records collected through the end of June. Almost half of those cases were for PTSD
The numbers do not include thousands treated at storefront Vet Centers operated by the department across the country. Nor does it include active duty personnel diagnosed with PTSD or former service members who have not sough treatment from the VA for their mental problems
About 1.5 million U.S. troops have served in Iraq or Afghnistan and 750,000 have since left the military eligible for VA health care
The nearly 50,000 VA documented PTSD cases far exceeds the official Pentagon tally for all wounded from those conflicts, which stands at 30,000
The discrepancy underscores the view by military and civilian health officials that troops tend to ignore, hide to fail or recognize their mental health wounds until after their military service
The overall number of mental health cases among war veterans grew by nearly 60 percent from 63, 767 on June 30, 2006 to 100,000 on June 30, 2007
The mental health issues include PTSD, drug and alcohol dependency and depression. They involve the troops who left the military and sought health care from the veterans department
Mental health is the second largest area of illness for war veterans after orthopedic problems and is increasing at a faster rate
The reality of troubled veterans is finally hitting the department
"They are trying to catch up with a moving train, because before, I think they were underfunded. They weren't getting the resources they needed"
Congress has criticized the Bush administration for failing to spend enough on VA health care, including mental health services. House and Senate commitees have added $1.7 billion to the administration's $27.3 billion VA 2008 budget request
The VA says it began responding in 2005 to war related needs, gradually increasing by 4,000 to nearly 11,000 the number of mental health specialists
"We are seeing the increase in mental health cases and we are preparing to deal with it"
Treating PTSD can be complicated and expensive. The challenge is making treatment available wherever veterans may live.
"If somebody needs to get into a PTSD program, you want them to have that access immediately"
Delay means "they are at a higher risk for drug or alcohol abuse, even suicide"
More than 100,000 veterans, about one out of seven of those who have served and left active duty, have sought help for mental illness since late 2001, the start of the war in Afghanistan, according to VA records collected through the end of June. Almost half of those cases were for PTSD
The numbers do not include thousands treated at storefront Vet Centers operated by the department across the country. Nor does it include active duty personnel diagnosed with PTSD or former service members who have not sough treatment from the VA for their mental problems
About 1.5 million U.S. troops have served in Iraq or Afghnistan and 750,000 have since left the military eligible for VA health care
The nearly 50,000 VA documented PTSD cases far exceeds the official Pentagon tally for all wounded from those conflicts, which stands at 30,000
The discrepancy underscores the view by military and civilian health officials that troops tend to ignore, hide to fail or recognize their mental health wounds until after their military service
The overall number of mental health cases among war veterans grew by nearly 60 percent from 63, 767 on June 30, 2006 to 100,000 on June 30, 2007
The mental health issues include PTSD, drug and alcohol dependency and depression. They involve the troops who left the military and sought health care from the veterans department
Mental health is the second largest area of illness for war veterans after orthopedic problems and is increasing at a faster rate
The reality of troubled veterans is finally hitting the department
"They are trying to catch up with a moving train, because before, I think they were underfunded. They weren't getting the resources they needed"
Congress has criticized the Bush administration for failing to spend enough on VA health care, including mental health services. House and Senate commitees have added $1.7 billion to the administration's $27.3 billion VA 2008 budget request
The VA says it began responding in 2005 to war related needs, gradually increasing by 4,000 to nearly 11,000 the number of mental health specialists
"We are seeing the increase in mental health cases and we are preparing to deal with it"
Treating PTSD can be complicated and expensive. The challenge is making treatment available wherever veterans may live.
"If somebody needs to get into a PTSD program, you want them to have that access immediately"
Delay means "they are at a higher risk for drug or alcohol abuse, even suicide"