Mental Health Problems Outpace Pregnancies, Injuries At Military Hospitals
USA Today: "Mental health disorders caused more hospitalizations among U.S. troops in 2009 than any other reason according to medical data released recently by the Pentagon. ... Last year was the first in which hospitalizations for mental disorders outpaced those for injuries or pregnancies in the 15 years of tracking by the Pentagon's Medical Surveillance Monthly report."
The army's surgeon general, Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, explained the spike: "War is difficult. It takes a toll." In 2009, 17,538 military service members were hospitalized for mental health disorders. By contrast, 17,354 hospitalizations were due to pregnancies and 11,156 service members were hospitalized with physical injuries and war wounds (Zoroya, 5/13).
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