Mental disorders plague more Iraq, Afghanistan war veterans in US

[Jcrowley]

Mental disorders plague more Iraq, Afghanistan war veterans in US
The Associated Press
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2006

WASHINGTON More than one-third of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking medical treatment from the Veterans Health Administration report symptoms of stress or other mental disorders — a tenfold increase in the last 18 months, according to an agency study.

The dramatic jump in cases — coming as more troops face multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan — has triggered concern among some veterans groups that the agency may not be able to meet the demand. They say veterans have had to deal with long waits for doctor appointments, staffing shortages and lack of equipment at medical centers run by the Veterans Affairs Department.

Contributing to the higher levels of stress are the long and often repeated tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq, troops also face unpredictable daily attacks and roadside bombings as they battle the stubborn insurgency.

Veterans and Defense Department officials said the increase in soldiers complaining of stress or mental disorder symptoms also may suggest that efforts to reduce the stigma of such problems are working and that commanders and medical personnel are more adept at recognizing symptoms.

http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/ap/2006/09/23/america/NA_GEN_US_Veterans_Stress.php

[BootinUp]

1. Another hidden cost

of Bush's great Adventure.

[InkAddict]

2. Meanwhile, Vets of the

VietName Era suffer through the repukes' and their base's domestic policies against American workers, deregulation of industries that promoted the "general welfare," while subjecting this group and everyone else, too, to age discrimination, outsourcing, downsizing, mergers & acquistions, H1-B substitution, unattainable criteria and suspension of clearance programs that denigrate American "integrity," in service to federal, state, local "civil" service in the face of high unemployment, unfunded educational programs in government and lack of appropriate training in the corporate environment, rocketing costs of college tuitions in spite of distance-learning, gasoline roller-coaster gouging that essentially inhibits "extra" commuting for other than necessities/basics to low-wage jobs to sustain American families, with or without the benefits of healthcare access, housing "bubble" that reaches its tentacles back 20 years or more, domestic spying/pretexting for shadow governments, the destruction of our system of Consitutional checks and balances and due process, election fraud, and the failure of this repuke administration's recognition of Internationally/Constitutionally human/civil rights for the sake of Amaggedon and/or Rapture of the "perfect" Christians versus the unholy heathen of every other persuasion. (Didn't creationism (in the image of God" trump Darwinism's "survival of the fittest" for this group; so what am I missing?)What, now bell-curves of belief systems begin and end in the same place???

All these domestic problems are also increasing the stress levels of many more American families to the breaking points of sudden poverty, criminality, and/or passive/agressive behaviorism and plain old-fashioned violent behaviors across all classes that sure include the perfect fundamentalism of the elite's worship of their God, the $$. For many, the reversal of societal "rules" and led to MAJOR MENTAL conflicts, another type of post-traumatic stress syndrome born of a war just to "survive" the upheavals in which this admin's failure to lead upon the values of our Constitution figures greatly. Surely, the BFEE/PNAC/Repukes' soul is now owned by the Devil and needs to be exorcised, metaphorically not necessarily religiously speaking.

I think that just about covers things - Oy Vey! What has happened to the America about which I learned????????

[Monkeyman]

3. Yep

The stories of all this are here plus the VA is $3 Billion short Larry is calling Bush's Budget Fake and Nicholson a liar I agree

http://www.vawatchdog.org

But people here and out their don't seem to care just a few do

[NOLADEM]

4. Plagues the Pentagon and White House as well

[pecwae]

5. VA has no intention of meeting demand.

I fully expect the system to become private sooner than later. With the new plans to buyout 10 & 20% SC vets (only a percentage based on expected life span) it's saying to me they have no plans to approve any more 10-20% disability ratings. Then they will move up the chain. Services are based on SC ratings and ability to pay. SC ratings require a 26 page application which is usually enough to prevent the ones who need it most from applying.

It's all calculated to screw the troops. And if any of the Bushbot troops think they're above getting screwed they're in for a surprise awakening. The VA does not care.