The primary focus of this article (found at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/us/19military.html?_r=1&ref=mentalhealthanddisorders) was on the benefits that troops being deployed to Iraq experienced when soldiers were screened for mental health problems before being sent overseas. The study focused on 17 combat brigades with over 21,000 soldiers that were sent to Iraq for 15-month periods of time. Three of the brigades received no mental health screening and were used as a control group. The other 14 were asked to fill out questionnaires before being deployed that covered things like if they were taking any psychiatric medications, had ever been treated by anyone in the mental health field, or had ever experienced suicidal thoughts.
About 7.7 percent of the soldiers filling out the survey had answers that raised concerns, and these were detained for more investigation. Of the 819 soldiers that received additional questioning, 649 were able to normally deploy eventually.
The two groups were then tracked during their time serving Iraq, and it was found that the group that received no mental health screening had a significantly higher proportion of soldiers who either experienced suicidal thoughts or had to be airlifted in an evacuation for mental health reason.
This study was conducted through the Army Medical Command, and is the first time that a screening of this type has been conducted in the army. They sighted two major reasons for the increased mental health in troops that had received the screening. One of these reasons being that individuals who had significant problems were entirely removed from being deployed. Additionally, those with minor problems or areas of concern could be monitored more closely and given proper treatment as needed.
After this study, there have been more serious laws passed about the requirements for deploying soldiers regarding their mental health, including identifying individuals who have suicidal tendencies, bipolar disorder, and other problems.
I thought it was interesting, because before taking this class, I wouldn’t have thought of this article as one concerning public health, because I thought that the field only encompassed things like AIDS or water treatment. However, mental health is an important part of overall health, though it is in my opinion, one of the most overlooked. It’s also one of the most difficult ones for the government to really try to monitor, because of arguments, such as the ones expressed in the article, that it’s not their role to determine who is mentally fit to serve their country. Indeed, it is hard to know where the line should be drawn in terms of who is mentally healthy, but I think it’s a positive thing to at least screen for the basics of mental health, such as if a person has suicidal thoughts. And looking at the figures in the article, it makes it clear that this kind of screening fits directly with the goals of public health, because instead of treating higher numbers of people after they have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. this is the government taking preventative steps in the health of its citizens.
I really think that mental health screening for soldiers is essential before their deployment. In my Crossroads class last semester, we watched a film titled "The Ground Truth". Here is an excerpt from a review done on the movie:
ReplyDelete"The filmmaker's subjects are patriotic young Americans - ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq - as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities. The terrible conflict in Iraq is a prelude for the even more challenging battles fought by the soldiers returning home - with personal demons, an uncomprehending public, and an indifferent government."
That last line is especially important. Many of the soldiers who return from Iraq have transformed into completely different people. As the battles continue, the soldiers trudge on, not knowing the kind of effect the war had on their mindset and their mental stability. Those soldiers who first entered the war with a vulnerable mental health were the soldiers who came back from the war and needed serious attention. The VA offers therapy and treatment for veterans facing suicidal intentions and for PTSD, but if we can screen for these people beforehand, we may be able to significantly reduce the number of psychiatric problems experienced by soldiers. Public health is not merely concerned with physical health, but with mental health as well.
At a recent military suicide prevention conference, it was reported that 18 veterans of all wars commit suicide each day in the United States.
This measure taken by the government could possibly decrease the number of soldiers who commit suicide when they return back home, and keep them mentally healthy. I believe that this procedure is a really great idea. It's not too costly and the benefits from it might greatly outweigh the time consumed to screen the soldiers.