Army officer warns of Mental health woes

Army officer warns of Mental health woes
By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer
5 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - Mental health screening isn't consistent for U.S. troops returning from war, and if they don't say they need help they often don't get it, the Army's top medical officer said Friday.

"If an individual checks nothing, I have no mental health issues, they're not necessarily being sent to mental health counseling," said Army Surgeon General Kevin Kiley, speaking at a hearing on military medical readiness before the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

It is estimated that about 17 percent of returning warfighters have post-traumatic stress disorder or severe anxiety and depression, compared to about 6 or 7 percent of the general population, Kiley said.

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Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha (news, bio, voting record), D-Pa., asked if shortening deployment lengths could help. Many troops spend more than a year deployed in a war zone.

Arthur said deployment lengths and the effect it has on a soldier's health is under review, but the consensus is that the effect varies on the intensity of the deployment.

"If you are on the front lines going door to door in Fallujah ... perhaps three months is an appropriate time," Arthur said. "If you are in Kuwait or Djibouti as many of our folks are, than perhaps a year is all right, so we're trying to tailor those deployment lengths to the length of the threat."

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070119/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/veterans_mental_health_1

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