One of the most painful and tragic legacies of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been the trauma suffered by those who served and the far-reaching consequences and after-effects of their scarring combat experiences. This very important volume looks at the issue of returning soldiers PTSD from multiple angles, examining skyrocketing suicide rates; the debates surrounding the quality and accessibility of health care; the nature of and stigmas associated with a PTSD diagnosis; the responsibility that government and society have to care for returning soldiers; how welcoming, protective, and supportive the environment is to which soldiers return; and the steep cost of war to the individual, families, and society at large. Full-Color Photographs, Bibliography, Detailed Table of Contents, Further Information Section, Index, Primary Sources, Websites.

Is PTSD among returning soldiers widespread? Overview: Post-traumatic stress disorder affects soldiers returning home / Celia Simon ; PTSD threatens lives and challenges public health / Mohammad S. Jalali ; Mental health professionals take veterans' PTSD seriously / Elizabeth Roberts-Pedersen ; PTSD has taken over America / Alice Karekezi ; PTSD claims inspire skepticism among active military members / Scott Faith -- Can a PTSD diagnosis be exploited? Overview: Exposure to combat and physical assault leads to PTSD / Mayo Clinic Staff ; PTSD needs better and consistent diagnosis / Peter Barglow ; There's no wrong way to respond to post-traumatic stress / National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association ; Returning soldiers view PTSD diagnoses as self-fulfilling doom / David Dobbs ; Extensive research results in new, effective diagnosis guidelines / Tori DeAngelis ; Iraq and Afghan War vets reap the benefits of technological advances / Wayne Kinney ; Be aware of the new standard for PTSD diagnosis / Matthew J. Friedman -- Is PTSD a valid mental health disorder? Overview: Literature, history, and the DSM all document PTSD / Marc-Antoine Crocq and Louis Crocq ; In some cultures, PTSD is understood as a part of war / Sebastian Junger ; Many different factors can cause PTSD / Sally Satel ; Identifying psychological injury helps diagnosis and treatment / David Forbes ; PTSD is not a mental illness / Denise Williams ; Pre-wartime experiences contribute to PTSD / Morena Lauth-Lebens and Gerhard W. Lauth ; PTSD is really just a political ploy / John Grant -- Do returning soldiers with PTSD get the treatment they need? Overview: The VA faces challenges with returning soldiers' mental health claims ; A Carolina community provides resources for treatment / Charlotte Bridge Home, Foundation for the Carolinas ; Creative expression is effective in treating PTSD / Joshua Smyth and Jeremy Nobel ; Talking it out helps veterans deal with PTSD / Goodtherapy.org ; PTSD treatment is barely adequate / Terri Tanielian ; VA health program falls short in providing care / Shefali Luthra ; Suicide is a tragic outcome of inadequate PTSD care / Robert Wilbur and James L. Knoll, IV -- Organizations to contact.