Tomorrow’s issue of British medical journal The Lancet (The Lancet, Volume 375, Issue 9727, Page 1666, 15 May 2010) will carry a story calling upon the new government to address “alcohol misuse and common mental health disorders, rather than probably post-traumatic stress disorder.” Read More
The cited studies showed that heavy drinking is a continuing problem but there is “not an epidemic of mental health problems – ” in regular service personnel contrary to some media reports.
Post-traumatic stress is more prevalent in deployed reservists.
“When reservists return to civilian life, some experience difficulties and need support not only from the Ministry of Defence, but also from across government, including the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions.”
To summarize, the report concluded that alcohol abuse is under addressed in regular duty personnel where most problems are alcohol-related, while traumatic-stress is a bigger problem among reservists.
The authors call for the government and military of the UK to adjust their stand on treatment of these two diverse groups.
