Soldiers in combat need more mental-health help
The average soldier receives 5.6 hours of sleep a night. This isn’t the recommended amount of rest nor enough to perform for long periods without consequences.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has symptoms, including flashbacks, withdrawal from society, irritability and sleeplessness.
Half of the soldiers currently serving already show signs of PTSD. Those soldiers are more likely to engage in unethical conduct, and some have admitted to abusing civilians and property.
Signs increase in soldiers with multiple deployments. Twice as many soldiers in Iraq show signs of PTSD compared to those serving in Afghanistan.
The answer to the war debate, no matter your side, is that our soldiers need help! Treatments include therapy and medication, which soldiers often refuse because of stigma, or sending soldiers to veterans centers, which are limited.
What about deploying mental-health workers into combat areas? Start fixing the issue before it’s a problem. Give our soldiers rest!
Dana Kroh
Greensboro
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