How Many Returning Troops Have Mental Health Issues?
The mental state of soldiers coming home from Iraq is a growing concern, particularly the possibilityof Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Different studies have yielded varying results, but all seem to agree that at least 12 percent of our troops have experienced serious mood disorders after returning home from the war. Currently, there are approximately 1.5 million American soldiers in Iraq, thousands of which will or have already been diagnosed with severe depression, mood disorders, and suicidal tendencies. One retired Navy Medic, Charlie Anderson, has contemplated suicide on two occasions. The first was before he was scheduled to return to the war, and the second came after a fellow veteran and friend killed himself. As it turned out, Anderson was not deployed back to Iraq, but now he is fighting his own personal battle. The number of veterans with conditions not unlike Anderson’s is not entirely clear. One study by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs showed that 12 to 20 perc
