As soldiers return home, patients expected to increase

As soldiers return home, patients expected to increase
VA Healthcare expects more patients

Updated: Monday, 16 Jan 2012, 1:04 PM MST
Published : Monday, 16 Jan 2012, 1:04 PM MST

Amanda Goodman

The New Mexico Department of Veterans Affairs says in 2011 it recorded 116 suicide attempts and 21 completed suicides.

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - It has been nearly one month since the last of the U.S. soldiers in Iraq rolled across the border into Kuwait and out of Iraq for good.

Over the next few months many of those soldiers will be heading home, bringing their battle scars whether physical or emotional back with them.

"It is about 50 percent that seek VA healthcare for mental health conditions and those conditions include post traumatic stress and post traumatic stress disorder,” Melissa Middleton with NM VA Healthcare system said.

New Mexico’s Veteran’s Affairs Healthcare System is expecting to see an increase in patients in 2012.

"Of the ones that were just discharged, I'm expecting somewhere around 1,000,” Middleton said.

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