About UPI  |  UPI en Español   |   My Account
Free News Update:
United Press International - News. Analysis. Insight.™ - 100 Years of Journalistic Excellence
  • Home
  • Top News
  • Entertainment
  • Odd News
  • Sports
    • Baseball
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Olympics 2008
    • Tennis
  • Business
  • Science
  • Health
  • Analysis
    • Energy Resources
    • Security Industry
    • Emerging Threats
  • Video
  • News Photos
Search:
Go
Advertise on UPI
You are here:  Home / Science News / Military's mental health system needs help

Science News

View archive | RSS Feed

Military's mental health system needs help

Published: June 15, 2007 at 9:59 AM
Order reprints  |  Print Story  |  Email to a Friend  |  Post a Comment
WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- A year-long study by a federal task force highlights an urgent need for improvement in the U.S. military's mental health system.

Soldiers and their families receive inadequate care from the system, overloaded by soldiers returning from the war in Iraq, said the report released in Washington Thursday.

The task force team was created by Congress and comprised of medical and mental health officials, including Navy Surgeon General Donald Arthur. The team surveyed soldiers at 38 military installations.

The military's mental health system is "woefully inadequate" in dealing with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and needs to hire more staff immediately, the report said. Pentagon health officials planned to respond to the study Friday, USA Today said.

More than 1 million soldiers have served in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001, many of them more than once. Of nearly 230,000 new veterans who have sought help from the Veterans Affairs Department, more than a third have mental disorders, the task force said.

The study also found a widespread lack of mental health resources for children in military families.



© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
News Photos Slideshows
Photos of the Day
Week in Photos
News
Entertainment
Sports
Features
Archives
Olympics 2008
Path to the Presidency
Most Popular
Stories
Photos
Videos
1.
Canadian astronaut to head space agency
2.
Study: Wolves would rather eat salmon
3.
Officials: Boy Scout has bubonic plague
4.
Governor opposes polar bear protection
5.
Canadian cheese recall is expanded
Path to the Presidency


Videos
Enlarge Video
Delegates' reaction: McCain's speech
Delegates' reaction: McCain's speech
Friday, September 5
Hats off to partying on
Hats off to partying on
Thursday, September 4
McCain set to accept party nomination
McCain set to accept party nomination
Thursday, September 4
Household vampires
Household vampires
Wednesday, August 6
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Official Government Wires  |   About UPI  |   Site Map  |   Terms of Use  |   Privacy Policy  |   Advertise Online  |   Contact Us

Sponsored Links: Auto Dealers - College Football Tickets - Fundraisers - Press Release Services - prom dresses - Prom dresses and gowns - Wedding and Honeymoon Experts - Motivational Sports Speakers Bureau