Fort Hood Shooting: A Closer Look at Soldiers and PTSD

Fort Hood Shooting: A Closer Look at Soldiers and PTSD
Fort Hood, the site of Thursday's horrific attack on U.S. soldiers, was the focus of a NOW on PBS report about American troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Many of the thousands of U.S. troops discharged from the Army each year suffer from PTSD and say they lack the vital care they need. The Army claimed these soldiers were let go due to pre-existing mental illnesses or because they were guilty of misconduct. But advocates argue this was a way for the Army to get rid of "problem" soldiers quickly, without giving them the treatment and benefits to which they're entitled.

In our online coverage, NOW interviewed two Fort Hood soldiers about the personal trauma they experienced while fighting in Iraq.

NOW will air a new report about caring for injured veterans, including those suffering from PTSD, on November 20.

Posted by Joel Schwartzberg on November 5, 2009 5:37 PM
http://www.pbs.org/now/blog/2009/11/fort_hood_shooting_a_closer_lo.html