Veterans Failing To Receive Proper Mental Treatment

WASHINGTON — Many Iraq war soldiers, veterans, and their families are failing to get needed psychological help because a stressed military's mental health system is overwhelmed and understaffed, a task force of psychologists found.

The panel's 67-page report calls for the immediate strengthening of the military mental health system. It cites a 40% vacancy rate in active duty psychologists in the Army and Navy, resources diverted from family counselors, and a weak transition for veterans leaving the military.

The American Psychological Association released the findings yesterday.

More than three out of 10 soldiers met the criteria for a "mental disorder," but far less than half of those in need sought help, the report found.

Sometimes that's because of the stigma of having mental health problems, other times the help simply wasn't available, according to the task force.

And there are special difficulties in getting help to National Guard and Reserve troops, who have been used heavily in Iraq, the report said.

The special task force found no evidence of a "well-coordinated or well-disseminated approach to providing behavioral health care to service members and their families."