Concerns over military mental health

FORT HOOD, Texas - The deadly shooting that killed 13 and injured 30 at Fort Hood on Thursday comes at a time when concerns have been mounting over the mental health of military personnel.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Fort Hood incident follows a particularly grim October during which 16 American soldiers killed themselves in the U.S. and while on duty overseas. The total number of suicides this year among active-duty personnel is now at 134, which puts the Army dangerously close to breaking last year's record of 140 active-duty suicides.

A 2008 report by the American Psychiatric Association found that the wars in Iraq have caused heightened stress, depression and sleeplessness among military personnel and their families.

Indeed the stress has manifested itself in violence at several military outposts. In May Sgt. John M. Russell was charged with the murders of five fellow soldiers at Camp Liberty in Iraq . Russell had been referred to the military counseling clinic after concerns over his mental state emerged.

CBS News reports that in Fort Carson, Colo., 14 soldiers in the same brigade allegedly committed or were charged with murder between 2005 and 2008. The Army found that this particular brigade "experienced slightly higher levels of combat than any other brigades." In 11 of the 14 alleged murders, there were documented problems with alcohol and drugs.

Investigators are continuing to probe what led the accused Fort Hood shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, to open fire on his fellow comrades. According to the Associated Press, the accused shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was about to deploy overseas for Iraq or Afghanistan. Retired Army Col. Terry Lee told Fox News that he worked with Hasan, who had hoped Obama would pull troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq. Lee said Hasan got into frequent arguments with others in the military who supported the wars, and had tried hard to prevent his pending deployment.

Federal law enforcement officials said Hasan had come to their attention at least six months ago because of Internet postings that discussed suicide bombings and other threats.

Just three days ago, Fort Hood commander Robert Cone issued a new mental health policy aimed at reducing the stigma associated with mental health counseling and urging soldiers to seek help.