US soldiers are afraid of consulting psychiatrist

A new survey suggests that about 32 percent of military members are afraid of consulting a psychiatrist.

Photo: US soldiers are afraid of consulting psychiatrist

The soldiers who came from Iraq and Afghanistan complain of damaged mental health, but they refrain from counseling as it may shatter their careers.

191 military members and their spouses participated in the survey revealing that 6 of 10 current and former soldiers consider consulting a specialist in such cases crucial.

Nowadays about 300,000 service members who returned from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from any psychological illnesses. The U.S. Army should now work to launch the campaign - to disillusion soldiers that it’s detrimental for career to address for help – and think of making it confidential.

As for side effects of impaired mental health, the soldiers and their spouses reported:

- difficulty sleeping at least twice a week,

- lack of interest in daily activities at least twice a week,

- stress from household duties or parenting alone.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a government-run military veteran benefit system responsible for administering programs of veterans’ benefits for veterans, their families, and survivors, plans to every veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan to inform them of their benefits, which include at least five years of free mental health services.

Photo: usliberals.about.com