Army struggles with mental health amid 2 long wars

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Army struggles with mental health amid 2 long wars
By DAN ELLIOTT
The Associated Press
Tuesday, December 7, 2010; 1:35 PM

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- A baby-faced, chain-smoking infantryman who was on a prescribed antidepressant when he allegedly shot and killed a captured Taliban member is the latest challenge to the Army's ability to address mental health problems in the ranks while fighting two lengthy wars.

Pfc. David Lawrence, 20, had also told family members before the shooting that he was hearing voices.

Lawrence is charged with premeditated murder in the Oct. 17 death of the prisoner, who prosecutors say was asleep in a jail cell when he was shot. If convicted, Lawrence could face execution or life in prison.

His case comes as the military grapples with a rising numbers of suicides, post-traumatic stress disorder cases and traumatic brain injuries. At the same time, commanders are striving to maintain the Army's numerical strength and soldier discipline in the face of repeated deployments.

At a military court hearing for Lawrence last week, prosecutors suggested he was faking mental illness in hopes of getting a lighter sentence. Lawrence asked for and received help from mental health providers in Afghanistan, according to testimony.