Troops in Afghanistan nine times more likely to suffer stress disorder

[Coventina]

Source: The Times Online

Troops sent to fight in Afghanistan are nine times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder than members of the Armed Forces who stay at home, the Ministry of Defence has admitted.

Women in the Forces are also suffering from a higher rate of mental disorder, proportionately, than their male counterparts: 700 servicewomen, some of whom will have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, were assessed last year as having a form of mental health problem.

The potential for suffering from PTSD among soldiers sent to Iraq and Afghanistan and the cases of mental illness among women was highlighted in new MoD figures released today.

Surgeon Commander Neil Greenberg said the numbers of PTSD sufferers was relatively low, although there had been “a marked increase”.



Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5081936.ece

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From our friends across the pond, but I'm sure our troops have the same issues...

on edit: fixed link

[patrice]

1. I positively f-ing HATE this sort of thing goin' on and on and on and on and . . . .

I've ALWAYS hated it and I always will.

WAR, what is it good for?

Absolutely nothing!

[jbane]

3. Running our of people for 2 wars.

I got orders 2 weeks ago for a one year deployment to Iraq.
I am a 51 year old public school employee (computer technician).
I've been selected becasue all the younger men and women have done
multiple deployments, we are running our of people. These two
wars have gone on too long.

[patrice]

4. God Bless and Keep you!

Know that I and others like me will keep on working to end this MADNESS!

[melonkali]

2. PTSD is almost inevitable in extended combat.

In WWII, the U.S. military figured that an average soldier could engage in about 240 firefights before he cracked up.