Combat Vets Suffer from Mental Illness at Higher Rates

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published March 18, 2008 at 10:09 AM PDT

This story was published more than 16 years ago.

Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are seeking treatment for mental illness in ever increasing numbers. Since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001, more than 100,000 combat veterans h

Originally aired Nov. 13, 2007.

Alison St John (Guest Host): San Diego is home for thousands of marines and sailors stationed at Camp Pendleton, Miramar and North Island. Many of them, once they return from the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, choose to stay here when they leave the armed forces. That means this community absorbs their experiences – both good and bad – as they reenter the civilian world.

Become a KPBS sponsor

Mental and emotional wounds can take time to show themselves and be more difficult to treat than physical wounds. We'll talk about what's being done to treat the aftereffects of war .

The Veteran Affairs San Diego Healthcare System is holding a Mental Health Awareness Fair on Sat., Nov. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the VA Medical Center in La Jolla.

Guests

Gary Rossio, director of the Veterans Administration of San Diego.

Bill Rider , former marine who served in the Vietnam War. He cofounded the group American Combat Veterans of War .