R.I.P. bro

[Truth2Tell]

by ss_camaro via http://www.reddit.com/">reddit

[Kennah]

1. The casualties of Iraq and Afghanistan will continue for years after we leave (if we ever do)

Sad doesn't effectively convey my emotions over the endless wars.

Despondent might be the correct word.

[markpkessinger]

3. And sadly, young men and women such as this won't be counted as "war casualties" n/t

[marginlized]

2. Are we the PTSD Nation? n/t

[Truth2Tell]

4. Here are some numbers from only 2007...

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/565407

November 6, 2007 (Washington, DC) -- Estimates of the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans returning from Iraq range from 12% to 20%. With deployment topping 1.5 million this summer, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) having treated more than 52,000 persons, the greatest effect of those mental health issues has yet to be experienced. These problems and interventions were presented here at the American Public Health Association 135th Annual Meeting.

Evan Kanter, MD, PhD, staff psychiatrist in the PTSD Outpatient Clinic of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, said that estimates are for a minimum of 300,000 psychiatric casualties from service in Iraq, to this point, with an estimated lifetime cost of treatment of $660 billion. That is more than the actual cost of the war to date ($500 billion).

"A study of the first 100,000 veterans seen at VA facilities showed that 25% of them received mental health diagnoses. Of these, 56% had 2 or more mental health diagnoses. The most common were PTSD, substance abuse, and depression," Dr. Kanter said. "The younger the veterans are, the more likely they are to have mental health conditions."

Evaluation immediately on return from deployment suggested that 5% of active duty and 6% of reserve personnel had a significant mental health problem. When reassessed 3 to 6 months later, 27% of active duty and 42% of reserve personnel received that evaluation.

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. I can give you a statistic in which I'm fairly confident.

Percentage of troops psychologically affected by deployment to a combat zone. 100%

The rest is a matter of degrees. :-(

[Truth2Tell]

5. kick

[gratuitous]

6. Come on, all of you big strong men, Uncle Sam needs your help again

When I say that military ads are pornography and shouldn't be viewed by anyone under the age of 90 without a parent present, I'm not kidding.

[Truth2Tell]

7. kick nt

[Truth2Tell]

9. Many end up with no treatmet at all

for a variety of reasons.. for example...

http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/10/21/1041467?sac=Home

WASHINGTON - The military has been discharging troops who are suffering from combat stress instead of providing treatment...

That would mean that many who could be afflicted with mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, have left the service without official medical diagnoses and no chance for medical benefits.

-snip

The disputed discharges are for "adjustment disorders," which can occur when a person has trouble handling a stressful event. In the military, service members who have seen combat or undergone other types of stress might be discharged as a result of sleepwalking, airsickness or severe nightmares.

The procedure bypasses the lengthier medical discharge process, but critics say that many troops are discharged erroneously and lose out on medical benefits.

"A service member who has a mental health condition is tempted with the carrot of going home to see family, and most service members will leap at the chance," said Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, an advocacy group. "Without a medical exam and legal advice, they quickly sign the discharge papers so they can go home. Most often they're not told they are sacrificing benefits..."