Study: More Troops Seeking Counselling

According to a Pentagon study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (and covered separately by CNN and other news organisations), around 35% of Iraq veterans received mental health care during their first year home.

The study explored the role of a new deployment mental health screening programme which encourages service personnel to seek early help; according to the CNN report:

Shortly after starting the ground war in Iraq in 2003, the Pentagon began requiring returning service members to complete a three-page survey that is used to decide who needs further help.

Among other things, the veterans are asked whether they have had nightmares, whether they are constantly on guard or easily startled, and whether they feel numb or detached from others.

The JAMA report itself concludes:

Combat duty in Iraq was associated with high utilization of mental health services and attrition from military service after deployment. The deployment mental health screening program provided another indicator of the mental health impact of deployment on a population level but had limited utility in predicting the level of mental health services that were needed after deployment. The high rate of using mental health services among Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans after deployment highlights challenges in ensuring that there are adequate resources to meet the mental health needs of returning veterans.

Rate this post?

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...