Veterans’ mental health cases increase sharply.
By on Oct 19th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Veterans’ mental health cases increase sharply.
According to VA records, the “total of mental health cases among war veterans grew by 58% from 63,767 on June 30, 2006, to 100,580 on June 30, 2007.” The number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from the VA “jumped by nearly 20,000 — almost 70%.”
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Those ‘phony’ veterans again, just asking for a government handout.
Right trolls?
October 19th, 2007 at 1:14 pmApparently there are plenty of mental health cases in congress too.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:15 pmRUC, looks like some troll already got deleted. So sad, wah, wah, wah.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:16 pmI suspect Randi Rhodes was attacked by minorities and paid hush money to claim that she “fell”.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:24 pmPTSD is fairly common in any heavy combat situations. War is hell and some things are just so horrible the mind in its own defense blocks or partially blocks part of that experience to deaden the shock/pain of the situation. Only later, those memories are brought up to the surface, raw and fresh, like it is happening again.
That is why therapy is so essential, they need to talk about it, think about it, get it out, quit letting the mind suppress it, so the mind can finally deal with it, learn from it, and move on with life.
Easier said than done though.
I still wake in a cold sweat some nights.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:25 pmThis is another side of the War that the current regime would like to keep hidden.
Just as the effects of PTSD from Viet Nam veterans are still reverberating up and down our society, the effect of PTSD on Iraq War Veterans will be with us for decades.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:31 pmWhen we have a stretched military thats going back a 2nd, 3rd and now 4th time into a chaos zone this is what happens. when we had real military leaders, they understood the value in resting troops. They understood the need to have large enough numbers in the service to accomplish the objectives.
This administration makes it up as they go along. All too afraid to ask this country for the unified sacrifice needed to successfully complete the “mission”.
I prayers go out to all service members. We have failed you in far too many ways.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:32 pmEh. Everybody knows that only whining liberal pussies have PTSD. REAL soldiers LOVE killing for America!!
/sarc off.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:33 pmI can see the right-wing spin now:
These are just phony soldiers looking for a handout. Real soldiers wouldn’t admit they were disturbed. The democratic party filled their heads with lies and sent them out to pander for the left. Do we really need veterans’ care anyway? I mean, come on, look how much money these people already make. Maybe they’re just choosing to be crazy.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:34 pmAnd we get this news at the same time we hear that many of the treatments for PTSD aren’t effective (today’s ThinkFast).
When will our leaders recognize this is a problem? Or is it true that they just regard our soldiers as disposable?
October 19th, 2007 at 1:35 pm…..and to think, it’s ALL for Busch’s “amusement”.
∞
October 19th, 2007 at 1:40 pmThat is why therapy is so essential, they need to talk about it, think about it, get it out, quit letting the mind suppress it, so the mind can finally deal with it, learn from it, and move on with life.
Easier said than done though.
I still wake in a cold sweat some nights.
Comment by Wayne — October 19, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Well said, Wayne (and thank you for your service).
October 19th, 2007 at 1:44 pmI have a father in-law that served in Vietnam. He’s been suffering for decades now. He viewed some atrocities there, and that has messed his life up ever since. Because of this mental aspect you described, he has never been a loving father or husband. With 4 grandchildren, he now realizes he needs help, and has been getting therapy at the VA.
PDSD is real. It is not “phony”. Unfortunately, we are going to see a greater increase it PDSD, due to this faux war, as well as questionable health service provided by this government.
Thanks Dubya. Thanks a heluva lot!
PTSD, not PDSD.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:45 pmSorry, busy day.
The troops come back feeling like the heroes they are and spend the next weeks and days listening to the Lush Limpbauh along with the MSM trash them, their mission and commanders, calling them “phony soldiers” when they tell their perspective of the Iraq War.
Comment by jdc — October 19, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Fixed your typos
October 19th, 2007 at 1:47 pmThe troops come back…
Comment by jdc
Note to jdc: Only the troops in body bags or with missing body parts are coming back; the rest of them are on their forth or fifth tour.
∞
October 19th, 2007 at 1:47 pmjdc can’t admit that Bush has pushed our troops into the middle of a civil war. He can’t come to grips with the fact there were no WMD’s and our troops are dying, not for our protection but for Bush to save face.
jdc, you disgust me.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:54 pmThe troops come back feeling like the heroes they are and spend the next weeks and days listening to the Democrat Party along with the MSM trash them, their mission and commanders.
Comment by jdc — October 19, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Who bashes them you psychopath. Obviously you’ve never been a soldier or you wouldn’t throw out such nonsense. If some soldier believes they are being bashed it’s because idiots like you tell them it is being done. I hope your proud of your lying self.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:56 pmjdc, if you are prior military then thanks for your service.
you still disgust me.
SPC, OCSA, Pentagon
October 19th, 2007 at 1:57 pmComment by hellinabucket — October 19, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
In order for Bush to feel the need to save face, he would need to have some small sense of honor. Bush has no Honor.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:58 pmHe has no problem looking into the cameras and telling bald-faced lies to the American People.
Agreed Wayne. Bush is the original “phony soldier”.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:00 pmUnfortunately PTST is compounded in Iraq by repeated, untreated head injuries from roadside bombs. Only the seriously injured are treated and the others sent back out.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:00 pmBush said something like the Iraq war is just like Vietnam in “all the right ways”. Like by permanently damaging our troops, their families, and their lives, I guess. The stereotypical homeless Vietnam vet? We’re gonna see a lot more Iraq war vets with problems.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:02 pmAgreed Wayne. Bush is the original “phony soldierâ€.
Comment by hellinabucket — October 19, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Does violating the Presidential Oath of Office mean he is “Phony President” too?
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Is defending the Constitution in some weird Republican dictionary defined as taking a match to it?
October 19th, 2007 at 2:07 pmJust wait until we bring our soldiers home. Anyone want to bet that close to half of them come home with PTSD or other mental problems. How can they not. They have been living in hell for the last 4-5 years, that has to have a negative affect on their mental health.
It is criminal what our government has done to these people and their families. They deserve all the help we can give them.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:07 pmOops, PTSD.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pmIsn’t it just like a spoiled rich kid to break their toys?
October 19th, 2007 at 2:12 pmE5, 1st CAV, Armored Recon
October 19th, 2007 at 2:12 pmComment by jdc
Isn’t Google wonderful. We can all be what we our fantasies dictate, or what is convenient.
Comment by jdc — October 19, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
Thanks for your service.
What is your opinion of the condition of VA care and and the care of the war wounded?
Are you aware of the situations reflected by the many Veteran Rights and Support groups?
October 19th, 2007 at 2:16 pmAre you aware that the last Republican Congress disposed of the yearly Congressional meetings with said veteran groups, after almost 50 years of them, to “avoid embarrassing the President”?
Then answer me just what would you have done if Clinton had even done 1/10 of what Bush has done to the troops?
Comment by RemoveBush
You are not really expecting an answer from a Bush Troll, are you? If so, I have to tell you that you have very unrealistic expectations.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:16 pmIf not a phony president, he’s most definately a miserable president.
No misguided here jdc. My #1 focus has always been for the soldiers. They were sent into Iraq on unfounded fear, without a plan, without proper equipment, without solid leadership.
Bush used the military’s valor and honor to distort fear and he’s still using them as an excuse.
Our military is the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. It’s not being used as a fighting force now. It’s a police force and that’s not it’s primary mission, nor is it best suited for this.
No missguided here. Just more focus than you are allowing yourself to attain.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:21 pmWe are harming these people who we ask to wear our military uniforms.
I listened to two friends of mine are veterans of the Viet Nam war. They both have anxiety attacks when a car backfires or fireworks go off. It gave me a different perception of 4th of July fireworks, which both say they cannot watch comfortably because of their wartime experiences.
It is obscene and unconcionable that we’ve asked our fellow citizens to sacrifice their bodies and psyches for Bush’s twisted and immoral goals. I used to think we went to war as a last resort (though I guess that was a fantasy that I should have thrown off long ago). It makes me ill that we’ve gone to war based on lies, and that we refuse to punish those who lied to us.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:28 pmOur military is the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. It’s not being used as a fighting force now. It’s a police force and that’s not it’s primary mission, nor is it best suited for this.
Comment by hellinabucket — October 19, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
Agreed.
As I have said before, Iraq is no longer a War.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:32 pmIt is an occupation. Totally different animal.
In a standard war, you are facing enemy soldiers.
In an occupation, you are watching for faces hidden in the crowds of civilians. It is one of the most horrible situations to put the troops through, as well as the civilian population getting caught in in the crossfire.
In Iraq, the enemy can be anyone, and killing civilians by US forces, by accident or design, only creates more of those faces in the crowds,not less.
Comment by jdc — October 19, 2007
Just as I suspected, he is not willing to answer the question. All he does is obfuscate. I am quite sure that jdc was not sent away from his family 3-4 times in the space of 4 years nor was he ever forced to stay for 15 months. I also expect that he was given the proper equipment he needed and given adequate rest between deployments.
You, sir, are a coward. If you had any courage you would answer the question that was put to you. You obfuscated the first part and ignored the question about Clinton entirely. Just what one would expect from a brainless troll.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:34 pmThose ‘phony’ veterans again, just asking for a government handout.
Right trolls?
Comment by RUCerious — October 19, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
No. Those ‘phony” veterans are just trying to be relevant.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:42 pmI believe in the current mission and the men and women involved in it. When George Bush is gone and the next President is there it will be the same.
Comment by jdc — October 19, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
I support the men and women and their service.
I supported the mission in Afghanistan to take out Al Qaeda and Osama Been Forgotten.
I never supported the Iraq War and it’s faulty mission. I do not support spilling the blood of our military men and women in a war started on lies like, “we cannot wait for a mushroom cloud as proof”.
The little FACT that munition and weapon dumps were left unguarded and unblown for weeks to months while the OIL fields were priority one and were ordered by Brass to secure first.
The mission was supposed to be WMDs!!!
It takes some twisted logic to attempt to explain that away, to explain why KNOWN munition dumps were left unguarded and not blown the fck up, to anyone with any combat training or experience.
Please explain you position on this.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:43 pmCommitted to the mission, the troops and disappointment in the treatment of the military by the Democrat Party and the MSM.
Comment by jdc — October 19, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
So you defend the Republican record of treatment of the men and women of the military?
October 19th, 2007 at 2:52 pmI was totally pissed about Walter Reed. You think it was a paradise when Clinton was in office and degraded to what it was in a few years.
As a matter of fact it did. They traced the deterioration back to when Bush privatized the facilities management.
Most of my customers are US military, most of my neighbors are active duty or retired military and all, not some, but all feel exactly the way I do.
That’s interesting, I know a lot of military and they think exactly the way I do. Also, the last survey in the Military Times showed that a majority of the soldiers in Iraq DO NOT agree with you. Most said that we need to bring them home.
Committed to the mission, the troops and disappointment in the treatment of the military by the Democrat Party and the MSM.
Exactly HOW has the Democratic Party or the MSM mistreated our troops?
And, you still have not answered the previous questions except for Walter Reed. So for your edification, I will list them one by one. You may place your answers under each.
1) Multiple Tours
2) Lying about deaths
3) Using troops as backdrops
4) Refusing to pay them, but will pay Mercs 5x more.
And for bonus points:
Please explain how you can support someone who treats fellow soldiers like that?????
Then answer, just what would you have done if Clinton had even done 1/10 of what Bush has done to the troops?
Questions complements of removebush
So jdc, do you have the courage to comment on each of those points? I doubt you do.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:54 pmAnd jdc, why are you avoiding my questions?
October 19th, 2007 at 2:54 pmI thanked you for your service and never insulted you, yet you ignore the questions of a fellow veteran. Why?
Committed to the mission, the troops and disappointment in the treatment of the military by the Democrat Party and the MSM.
Comment by jdc — October 19, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
But you’re thrilled with the way the Republican Party treats the troops, right. Which makes me say BS to your whole story, troll.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:54 pmCommitted to the mission, the troops and disappointment in the treatment of the military by the Democrat Party and the MSM.
Comment by jdc
BTW, jdc, it is the Democratic Party, not the Democrat Party. Now you wouldn’t misuse that word just to insult Democrats, would you?
October 19th, 2007 at 2:56 pmBTW, jdc, it is the Democratic Party, not the Democrat Party. Now you wouldn’t misuse that word just to insult Democrats, would you?
Comment by bilbobaggins — October 19, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Why yest I believe he would. That’s what happens when your copying of a talking points sheet which jdc obviously is. I suspect he’s served as much as I have.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:58 pmGreat posts with great points.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:04 pmIt appears that jdc has left the building. When the going gets tough, the trolls get going.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:11 pmJust a “standard” war would be cause for increase in cases. Then add on Urban combat, extended tours, lying about their deaths…….
So why is this news to anyone ?
October 19th, 2007 at 3:17 pmComment by jdc — October 19, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Not sure who’s questions you are answering, but you avoid mine, so I will ignore you as a pointless troll and suspect you of having no real military experience.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:23 pmAll non answers jdc. “you fight the war with what you’ve got” is laughable. We entered WWII because we were attacked. We had a broken down 3rd world military at the begining but thru a unified national sacrifice we created the mightiest military of the day. Bush hasn’t done anything of the like in more time than the entire WWII. Troops were also given more time off. There was a draft. All of America stood together. Bush can’t get a family photo off the ground let alone pulling the country together.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:25 pm1) Multiple Tours
You fight the war with what you’ve got. In WWII, troops left for war and returned when it was over.
No one during World War II was in the field, fighting continually for 15 months. You sound just like Rumsfeld. Does that make you good to know that you would send people to fight a war with “what you’ve got”. Disgusting,
2) Lying about deaths
I don’t know about this except Pat Tillman. This happened down the chain of command and was uncovered.
Well, Pat Tillman is one. But the bigger lie is to count only people who die with their boots on the ground in Iraq. If you died on a helicopter to Germany, you don’t count. That way it looks like only 4,000+ soldiers have died when in reality the number is probably twice that.
3)Using troops as backdrops
I don’t even know what you mean by this.
Meaning that whenever Bush is feeling a little insecure, he has some kind of event with our troops as the backdrop. Like the time he flew a rubber turkey to Iraq.
4)Refusing to pay them, but will pay Mercs 5x more.
Please show me where the troops are not being paid. Are you saying they were paid 5x more when a Democrat was President. Every troop there volunteered and knew the pay before signing up.
I suspect this was in reference to Bush threatening to veto a 3.5% raise for our soldiers. Then there’s the fact that he is backtracking on education benefits. Add that to the number of people who are only rated 32% disabled because 33% means lifetime health benefits, Bush has been screwing our military financially from the start. You also avoided the part of the question about paying Blackwater mercs 4X what our military is being paid. Why are the mercs worth that kind of pay but our soldiers are not?
Nice try, but no cigar.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:28 pmPerhaps JDC is suffering from PTSD himself, or perhaps a traumatic brain injury. …
That would explain the severely delusional thinking, cognitive disabilities and inability to reason he appears to suffer from.
October 19th, 2007 at 3:50 pmI can see the right-wing spin now:
Comment by erock — October 19, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
I think the old troll patrick1 has already stated the right wing position on what we owe our men and women that fight for this country, in the shortest possible terms. He called veteran services “Socialized Health Care”.
October 19th, 2007 at 4:03 pmYou mean that when Troops are redeployed 3, 4, 5 times that they can develope mental instability? Maybe we need to draft conservatives to take their place, they are the ones doing the RAH RAH for the WAR anyway.
Oh forgot the conservatives are CHICKENHAWKS, my bad.
I feel for these troops, being used and abused for the FASCIST WAR CRIMINALS battle for OIL.
Buck Fush
October 19th, 2007 at 4:03 pmThanks for covering on the answers, or should I say non-answers from jdc.
Comment by RemoveBush
You’re very welcome. Thanks for asking the questions. A very successful day of “whack a troll”. Our little troll has slunk off in defeat.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:03 pmAnd this come out only one day after it was announced that one thing that has surge as a result of the “surge” are stop loss orders.
A stop loss order extends an enlistment beyond the scheduled discharge date. For instance, if a soldier has 6 months left on his current enlistment and has no intention or reinlisting he can still be sent to Iraq for a full 15 month deployment rather than being dischared after 6 months and his enlistment committment has been legally completed.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:55 pmComment by Wayne — October 19, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Thanks very much to the veterans around here, both for your service and for your knowledge.
October 20th, 2007 at 1:18 amTo repeat that which cannot be repeated too often. . . .
thank you vets . . . God bless you . . . our thoughts and prayers are with you . . .
Please seek the treatment that you need . . . in support, I’ll contact my congress people and do whatever I can. If more can be done, or be done differently, please, don’t hesitate to let us know.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:45 am