Big number of US troops' children seek mental help

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two million children with parents in the military sought outpatient mental health care last year, twice the number from the start of the Iraq war, internal Pentagon documents show.

The documents, obtained by The Associated Press, also reveal an alarming spike in the number of military children hospitalized for mental health reasons.

From 2007 to 2008, 20 percent more children of active duty troops used inpatient mental health services, many of them under age 14, the documents show. Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, inpatient visits among military children have increased 50 percent.

The total number of outpatient mental health visits for children of those on active duty doubled from 1 million in 2003 to 2 million in 2008. During the same period, the total yearly bed days for children of active duty personnel 14 and under increased from 35,000 in 2003 to 55,000 in 2008, the documents show.

Read more: http://www.pr-inside.com/big-number-of-us-troops-children-r1371897.htm

[Tempest]

1. The Bush legacy

He must be so proud.

[Bragi]

2. An enlightened society

An enlightened society would only engage in defensive wars, and it would have a military comprised of soldiers without children. Allowing, and even encouraging, adults with young children to go off to fight in wars is a form of child abuse.

[aquart]

3. Good.

Wish previous generations had felt able to do it.

[uppityperson]

4. That was my thought also. Glad they are able to get the help they need

It is a shame they need it, but I am glad that there is help there for them and they are able to use it

[GinaMaria]

5. I am saddened by this

I hope these startling numbers serve as a wake up call to pro-actively protect the children of military personnel starting before they leave for war. I hope there are ways to decrease psychiatric hospitalization for these kids. They have sacrificed so much already.

[lebkuchen]

6. As if the US govt. ever, ever gave a damn about its children

all lip service

[madrchsod]

7. where is the anti-war movement in this country?

obama has escalated the war in afghanistan with the largest us marine action since Vietnam. he received clearance from russia to use their airspace to resupply our troops. the war in afghanistan is obama`s war and he will not win. just how long and how many will die before he realizes he will lose?

how many more children in the usa and afghanistan will suffer from this war...

[defendandprotect]

12. We need to push harder on getting out of these wars . . .

[lovuian]

16. Agree he is playing with a losing hand

russia can cut off lines at anytime

War is a losing game for America

[KamaAina]

8. And that's only the ones who *sought* help

:scared:

[TrogL]

9. I hate watching US news on TV

because of the mandatory "troops coming home from their shift in Iraq" shots. You see the kids all excited standing at the back of the auditorium, then somebody gives the magic word and everybody rushes the troops and the kids get to hold their dads and moms and everybody looks happy for a few minutes and then they realize sometime real soon they have to go back and it all starts all over again.

Then there's the kids wondering where their friends' moms and dads are that were KIA.

[caseymoz]

10. The wounds of war scar people who don't even go into battle.

It is has a warping effect, I've decided.

[defendandprotect]

11. The lunatics in control of our military are sick people . . .

and they are poisoning the minds of our troops --

the military family has been destablized -- financially and emotionally.

And domestic violence is one symptom of it --

[Wednesdays]

13. K&R

:kick:

[Kurovski]

14. K&R. (nt)

[Solly Mack]

15. K&R