Health problems in Iraq.

Health in Iraq

Combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health problems, and barriers to care.

BACKGROUND The current combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have involved U.S. military personnel in major ground combat and hazardous security duty. Studies are needed to systematically assess the mental health of members of the armed services who have participated in these operations and to inform policy with regard to the optimal delivery of mental health care to returning veterans. M...

Public perception of mental health in Iraq

BACKGROUND People who suffer from mental illness, the professionals who treat them, and indeed the actual concept of mental illness are all stigmatised in public perception and often receive very negative publicity. This paper looks at Iraq, which has a population of 30 million who are mainly Moslem. Mental health services and professionals have historically been sparse in Iraq with 1 psychiatr...

"Under severe duress": health care in Iraq.

More than 13 years after the US-led occupation of Iraq in March, 2003, observers there say its health-care system is now in a far worse condition than in the de scription given by Clare Short, the then-UK Development Secretary, 7 weeks before the occupation. “Hospitals, clinics, sanitation facil ities, and water treatment plants suff er from a terrible lack of main tenance”, Short explained to ...

Factors affecting help seeking for mental health problems after deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

OBJECTIVE This study assessed the prevalence of general medical problems, stress or emotional problems, and alcohol problems reported by members of the armed forces of the United Kingdom after deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan. The study also identified types of help seeking and factors associated with help seeking. METHODS A total of 4,725 military personnel who were deployed to Iraq, Afghan...