Reply #1: After Iraq, Many Soldiers Seek Counseling (over 1/3)

[deadparrot]

CHICAGO - More than a third of U.S. soldiers received psychological counseling soon after returning from Iraq, according to a Pentagon study that could add fodder to a budget battle in Congress over veterans' health care.

The researchers did not find the results surprising, because the military has a new mental health screening program for returning soldiers and is encouraging them to get help early to prevent serious problems later, said study co-author Dr. Charles Hoge, a colonel at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Because of the new screening program, the findings cannot be compared to those from previous wars, Hoge said.

"There are psychological consequences of war and we want to address those up front," Hoge said. "The hope is we won't have as high rates of mental health consequences as we've seen in prior wars."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060228/ap_on_he_me/iraq_mental_health