UK:Women in Armed Forces more likely to suffer from PTSD

Women in the Armed Forces 'more likely to suffer mental problems'
Women serving in the Armed Forces are twice as likely to suffer from mental health issues as men, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Defence.
By Aislinn Laing
Published: 7:30AM GMT 08 Feb 2010
The figures put the spotlight on concerns about the number of women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The statistics show that seven women out of 1,000 serving in the Army, Navy and RAF suffered some form of mental disorder – including depression, anxiety or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

By comparison, three male servicemen in 1,000 suffered from mental disorder.

The figures will fuel the debate about women potentially serving in front line infantry roles at a time when the Ministry of Defence is considering whether to lift the ban.

Women already operate on the front line in a series of roles in Iraq and Afghanistan as medics, intelligence officers and with the artillery, and often find themselves in firefights as they go out on patrol or are flown off base to provide medical assistance.

The figures do not include those servicemen and women who are treated outside of the military structure in Primary Care Trusts and, according to mental health experts, men tend to recognise such problems later when they have left the Armed Forces.

Piers Bishop, a director of the Resolution which treats service personnel with PTSD, said many of the mental disorders included in the statistics were probably low-level.
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Women in the Armed Forces