Military Children in Crisis

[unhappycamper]

America's military kids are showing symptoms of deployment-related stress, virtual mirrors of their parents who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Military Children in Crisis
Saturday 17 October 2009
by: Stacy Bannerman, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

A seven-year-old second-grader attempted suicide while his father was serving yet another tour in Iraq. Seven years old. Seven. His mother was one of half a dozen military spouses I have spoken with about soldiers' kids who have attempted suicide during their fathers' deployments.

When I was seven, it was 1972, and there were 69,000 US troops in Vietnam. Men were still being drafted and deployed, but not my dad. So I was spared the circumstances that led a seven-year-old to try to kill himself.

Three-plus decades ago, parents were exempt from conscription because of overwhelming concern about the harmful effects of deployment on children. Today, roughly half of the troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are parents, many of whom have served multiple tours. Repeat deployments stress soldiers and escalate the likelihood of psychological injuries that can last for a lifetime. There is a small, but rapidly growing, body of evidence suggesting that the same is true of their children.

The Associated Press reported that "After nearly eight years of war, soldiers are not the only ones experiencing mental anguish.... Last year, children of US troops sought outpatient mental health care 2 million times, double the number at the start of the Iraq war.... Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, inpatient visits among military children have increased 50 percent. ("War stresses military kids," July 12, 2009.)

The Veterans Administration's latest research on mental health issues of troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan shows that "the prevalence of new diagnoses in early 2008 had nearly doubled from four years prior in 2004." ("Study reveals sharp rise in diagnoses of disorders," Stars & Stripes, July 18, 2009.)

Rest of article at: http://www.truthout.org/101709C

[maddezmom]

1. and the numbers are only going to increase

:(

[Mari333]

2. sent over 4 and 5 times to possible death, its killing these families

I saw it first hand in my own life.
Its cruel, beyond cruel..and with the possibility of sending more troops to these occupations (no they arent wars we are OCCUPYING LANDS FOR NO REASON), it will only get worse.
in the meantime, the cushy Congress and white house ignores it .

[tazkcmo]

3. These children knew what they were getting into

when their parents volunteered! (Sarcasm) Really a shame and should be criminal. Our government only cares about us before we're born and during elections (And e-voting can eliminate this).

[daedalus_dude]

6. The problem is, that in America that military is portrayed as if it was a regular business

with regular jobs and career opportunities, and that it is similar to other jobs like consulting or accounting or whatever.

But its not. It's not a "bring your children to work" business. I don't understand how anyone could think that military and family mixes. If you sign up for the military you are signing up for war. More so, if you are living in a country that is in a constant state of war.

I considered joining the military once. I was aware of the fact that it would mean giving up my life as a "regular person" entirely. I decided against it for political reasons. I came to conclude however that there is no conceivable way that the United States will ever have an administration of which I entirely agree with the goals and ideals. Maybe if one day a foreign army is marching across our borders AND I'm entirely sure that WE didn't start it I will sign up, but until then, HELL NO. I'd rather spend the rest of my life cleaning WCs.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Three cheers for Capehart kids....nt

[AwakeAtLast]

5. My daughter is 7

She was 3 and 4 while her dad was in Iraq. We are still dealing with her issues left over from that time. He is, as of right now, on the list to go to Afghanistan.

And I worry.

[ampad]

8. I am sorry to hear that

Our family faced that issue a few years back. I hope he does not get sent back and your daughter gets better.

[AwakeAtLast]

9. Thank you

Her issues are about the extreme separation and then dealing with her 'different' father after he came back. Maturity will help a great deal.

:pals:

[ampad]

7. Good grief

Please, please, Mr. President stop these wars.

[G_j]

10. so important!

K&R