U.S. military troops with severe psychological problems have been sent to Iraq or kept in combat, even when superiors have been aware of signs of mental illness, a newspaper reported for Sunday editions.The Hartford Courant, citing records obtained under the federal Freedom of Information Act and more than 100 interviews of families and military personnel, reported numerous cases in which the military failed to follow its own regulations in screening, treating and evacuating mentally unfit troops from Iraq.In 1997, Congress ordered the military to assess the mental health of all deploying troops. The newspaper, citing Pentagon statistics, said fewer than 1 in 300 service members were referred to a mental health professional before shipping out for Iraq as of October 2005.Twenty-two U.S. troops committed suicide in Iraq last year, accounting for nearly one in five of all non-combat deaths and was the highest suicide rate since the war started, the newspaper said.
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That is not right, what are they thinking?
That the soldiers are safe. What goes on is this: If the soldier has been on any anti-depressant medication they cannot be in the military. EXCEPT if it has been a year or more since they've been on the medicine AND there is no medical documentation saying they are depressed. It's easy to get your doctor to change that diagnosis. And easier to just stop your medications. It's not the military's purpose to send them over. But it happens. Plus, while over there, they do get depressed. Read my new blog if you're interested. The main reason they're killing themselves over there is "Dear John" letters. I agree, we need better treatments for our soldiers after they come home, before they go back again. But, it's government. It does fail at times. Nothing is perfect.
Plus, those who do have mental problems (known or unknown to the soldier, not known to the military) are the ones most likely to sign up. The rush, the power, it makes them feel alive and human.
-J-
Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. - James Allen
And 99 soldiers committed suicide last year, not 25. Again, it's in my blog. Links to articles just recently published.
-J-
Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. - James Allen