Keith Olbermann on the epidemic of suicide among veterans

Up to a half million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk for mental health problems, and they aren’t receiving help.

And it is an emerging national public health crisis.

That’s what the head of the American Psychiatric Association is saying about the huge number of soldiers coming back from Iraq who are suffering mental health issues.

At the same time, an angry U.S. Senator said the Bush administration is lying in an effort to cover up the problem.

Combat stress is taking a huge toll on the minds of America’s soldiers. Of the one and a half million who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, experts believe 500 thousand have come home with mental health problems such as post traumatic stress disorder, depression or anxiety.

If not addressed this will constitute a national public health crisis.
-Dr. Mary Helen Davis / American Psychiatric Association

Our son Timothy was lying on the floor of my shop office slowly bleeding to death from a self inflicted gunshot wound.
-Mike Bowman / Father of Time Bowman

No one knows how many vets, like Tim Bowman, have taken their own life. But it appears the Government is trying to cover up the problem. Dr. Ira Katz, the Veteran’s Administration Mental Health Director told Congress last fall the number was in the hundreds. Then he admitted in an email that as many as 12,000 vets might be attempting suicide each year.

But it really sounds as though Congress is being lied to either by the VA or the Administration. Well, I think clearly within the emails that have been revealed within the last week we were lied to. -Sen. Patty Murray (D) Washington

On Thursday, the Pentagon is taking steps to ease the stigma of seeking help for combat stress. Among other steps taken to ensure that veterans seek care, is that they will no longer have to reveal their health counseling when applying for security clearances.