The New Nation - Internet Edition

ROUGHLY one in every five US troops who have survived the bombs and other dangers in Iraq or Afghanistan now reportedly 'suffers from major depression' or 'post-traumatic stress' and the toll is estimated at 300,000 or more. An independent study, the first major survey from outside the government, that was carried out by the Rand Corp, said only about half of those with mental health problems have sought treatment and even fewer of those with head injuries have seen doctors. Based on Pentagon data that more than 1.6 million were deployed in the two wars, the researchers of the survey study calculated that about 300,000 are suffering from mental health problems.

Nineteen per cent - or an estimated 320,000 - may have suffered head injuries and there is a major health crisis facing those men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, researcher Terri Tanielian was quoted as saying. The Rand study, the first large-scale, private assessment of its kind, included a survey of 1,965 service members across the US, from all branches of the armed forces and including those still in the military as well as veterans who have completed their service. The findings of the study are said to appear 'consistent' with mental health reports from within the US government.

The most prominent and detailed Pentagon study on the military's mental health that is released regularly to the public is the army's survey of soldiers, taken annually at the battle zone since 2003. The most recent one last fall, as stated by the media, found 18.2 per cent of army soldiers suffered from mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or acute stress in 2007, compared with 20.5 per cent the previous year. Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker, Army Surgeon, is quoted to have commented, 'They're helping us to raise the visibility and the attention that's needed by the American public at large t"