Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Veteran Stress Cases Surge

VA took on 20,000 new cases—up 70% —in one year

By Lucas Laursen, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 19, 2007 6:20 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Department of Veterans Affairs reported treating 20,000 new cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a 12-month period ending in June, up an astounding 70% from the same time the previous year, reports USA Today. The VA counts a total of nearly 50,000 PTSD cases, and expects the number to grow.

The Pentagon reports a total of only 30,000 wounded, which experts say is because soldiers often ignore, hide or don’t recognize mental health problems until after military service. Mental illness is the second most common problem among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, after orthopedic complaints, but is growing faster. The VA has increased the number of mental health care specialists from 4,000 to almost 11,000 since 2005.

Retired Marine Maj. Gamal Awad poses at his home in Temecula, Calif., Sept. 5, 2007. Awad suffers from post traumatic stress disorder which followed his rescue work on Sept. 11, 2001, at the Pentagon.... (Associated Press)

U.S. Army clinical psychologist Greg Reger, right, adjusts a virtual-reality headset worn by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Ebert Friday, June 29, 2007 as they demonstrate an experimental virtual-reality computer... (Associated Press)

Retired Marine Maj. Gamal Awad works out at his home in Temecula, Calif., Sept. 5, 2007. Awad suffers from post traumatic stress disorder which started after he volunteered for rescue work on Sept. 11,... (Associated Press)

PTSD treatment. (KRT Photos)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

VA Doctor Discouraged Post-Traumatic Diagnoses

Email urged staffers to save disability costs

(NEWSER) - A team leader at a veterans' medical center in Texas sent staffers an email urging them to avoid diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder, the Washington Post reports. "Given that we are having more and more compensation-seeking veterans, I'd like to suggest that you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out," wrote the psychologist, suggesting a milder condition be diagnosed instead. More»

PTSD: Vets Wage Internal Wars

Combat trauma continues to plague returning soldiers

(NEWSER) - Records of post-traumatic stress disorder go as far back as The Odyssey, and Iraq veterans are adding to the list. Combat trauma has been repeatedly linked with rates of unemployment, substance abuse, domestic violence and criminality above the national average. Yet PTSD victims aren't getting the treatment they need, and often end up behind bars, the New York Times reports. More»

For Returning Troops, an Even Worse Job Reality

They're grappling with 10% employment; non-vets at 9.1%

(NEWSER) - The job market is obviously bleak—but it's even worse when it comes to troops returning from war. The Washington Post takes a look at the 2 million veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, who spent as much as 10 years, on and off, in desolate war zones, racking up skills that have little value at home. The result, according to federal data, is that they're having an even tougher time finding jobs: Last month, recent veterans had a 10% unemployment rate, compared to 9.1% for non-vets. More»

College Bans Vet for 'Addicted to Killing' Essay

Ex-soldier: Essay was 'therapeutic'

(NEWSER) - An Iraq and Afghanistan veteran who wrote that he was "addicted to killing" in an essay about his war experiences was banned from campus after his essay was published in his college newspaper. The Community College of Baltimore County told Charles Whittington that his writings "raised red flags," especially in light of the Virginia Tech shootings. "I was really frustrated, because they didn't give me a chance to explain," Whittington tells ABC News . "I wrote the paper to talk about the reality of what other soldiers go through and it was therapeutic for me." More»

Obama: 'Solemn' Duty to Help Vets With PTSD

White House plans to make getting benefits easier

(AP) - With the military fighting two wars, President Obama said today the country has a "solemn responsibility" to ensure that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder get the help they need. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is to announce new regulations Monday intended to make it easier for veterans with PTSD to receive government benefits. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Veteran Stress Cases Surge

VA took on 20,000 new cases—up 70% —in one year

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

veterans • mental health • PTSD • Iraq veterans

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

VA Doctor Discouraged Post-Traumatic Diagnoses

Email urged staffers to save disability costs

PTSD: Vets Wage Internal Wars

Combat trauma continues to plague returning soldiers

For Returning Troops, an Even Worse Job Reality

They're grappling with 10% employment; non-vets at 9.1%

College Bans Vet for 'Addicted to Killing' Essay

Ex-soldier: Essay was 'therapeutic'

Obama: 'Solemn' Duty to Help Vets With PTSD

White House plans to make getting benefits easier

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?