The San Diego Union-Tribune is running a story by Gretel Kovach about increasing rates of suicide in the Marine Corps. The piece claims the Marine Corps reported the highest suicide rate among the armed forces for 2009. It goes on to describe Navy Medicine's efforts to try to address the problem:
Pilots taking medication for mild or moderate depression will soon be allowed in the cockpit under new Federal Aviation Administration guidelines that reverse a nearly 70-year ban. Clinically depressed pilots, including those undergoing therapy or prescription treatment, are currently prohibited from flying.
Pilots on antidepressants will be allowed to fly planes.
In June of 2007 the DoD Mental Health Task Report recommended that mental health screening questions from the security clearance questionnaire be removed to reduce stigma. In response, the DoD announced in the spring of 2008 that the mental health question on the Standard Form 86 would be revised.
Here is the language from the September 1995 revision:
Spouses face day-to-day pressure while soldiers are away and very little is being done for them at home, according to Rebecca Sinclair, the wife of 172nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Jeff Sinclair.
USA Today has an article today written by Gregg Zoroya entitled Troops' kids feel war toll. The article claims that children of combat troops have more fear, anxiety and behavioral problems. Here are some select quotes:
