In the News: One-Fifth of Vets Have Mental Problems

About one-in-five U.S. troops is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or serious depression from serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to the Rand Corporation think tank. An equal number have suffered brain injuries. The survey shows that only half of the more than 600,000 military personnel who have shown symptoms have sought treatment. The results appear consistent with several government reports, but the Department of Defense has not released the official number of people who have been diagnosed or treated for mental problems. The Pentagon’s failure to release data on the studies was the primary reason for the study – the first large-scale, private assessment of its kind – according to Rand.

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