Boston Globe Editorial - Soldiers' emotional ills

Boston Globe Editorial - Soldiers' emotional ills
Copyright by The The Boston Globe
February 17, 2007

The U.S. military and the Department of Veterans Affairs are failing to respond effectively to the mental and emotional ills of America's troops. The mental-health screening for soldiers and marines returning from Iraq or Afghanistan consists of a form to fill out. Not only is that grossly inadequate, but the troops are reluctant to acknowledge any difficulties they are having because they know this will delay reunions with their loved ones.

This would change if Congress passed a bill, first introduced in 2005 by Representative Martin Meehan of Massachusetts, that would substantially improve the way the military and the Veterans Administration deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The bill would require a thorough mental-health examination of every service member returning to civilian life. Treatment would typically be provided when the veteran is back in his community, so that owning up to problems would not keep veterans from rejoining their families.

Congress should act quickly. Spending for veterans' healthcare has been rising in recent years, but President George W. Bush's new budget calls for cuts in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze from then on. Congress should make sure that VA facilities have all the funding they need. America does not support its troops by turning its back on them when they become veterans.