Thursday, November 22, 2007

PTSD: Wounds of the Soul

Many soldiers and Marines under report PTSD, for various reasons. Logan Merrill says he's embarrassed. There is a stigma attached to mental health issues and some believe that if they're labeled with PTSD, they'll hurt their military careers. But for most of the men and women, it's the guilt associated with potentially being sent home. They don't want to leave their buddies. Colonel Platoni says sometimes sending a soldier home can be the worst thing to do as they wrestle with leaving their friends in the combat zone.


PTSD: Wounds of the Soul
By: Mary-Ann Maloney

With as many as 40 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans expected to return home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the Veteran's Administration is scrambling to be able to meet the needs. At John J. Pershing Veterans Hospital in Poplar Bluff, they've increased their mental health staff by 200 percent over the last 18 months and they're still hiring.

Soldiers and Marines can suffer from PTSD after witnessing a traumatic event. Multiple deployments, in a war with no fixed front or rear, fighting an enemy that doesn't wear a uniform in almost an unbearable environment are some of the reasons more and more veterans are suffering from PTSD.

From September of 2005 to June of 2006, reported cases of PTSD involving Iraq veterans was up 87 percent. This is a trend that many medical experts expect to continue. Often the symptoms of PTSD don't suffer until months after a soldier or Marine returns home.
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http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=7393804&nav=8H3x

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