Mental illness costing military soldiers

[1]  
By Jae C. Hong, AP

A U.S. Marine with a bag full of sample tubes between his feet while taking psychological tests at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2009.

By [2] Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

The number of soldiers forced to leave the Army solely because of a mental disorder has increased by 64% from 2005 to 2009 and accounts for one in nine medical discharges, according to Army statistics.

Last year, 1,224 soldiers with a mental illness, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, received a medical discharge. That was an increase from 745 soldiers in 2005 or about 7% of medical discharges that year, according to personnel statistics provided to USA TODAY.

The trend matches other recent indicators that show a growing emotional toll on a military that has been fighting for seven years in Iraq and nine years in [3] Afghanistan, the Army and veterans advocates say.

[4] Mental illness costing military soldiers - USATODAY.com