Vrede wrote:[
I think his point is that drone piloting also cause US military casualties, not that it is worse than some other military jobs. Are you sure that you didn't misunderstand?
I didn't misunderstand that point, but I may not have properly addressed it. I really do think it's outrageous that people in stressful jobs in the military (and elsewhere) don't get proper support, help, and treatment. I also think it's outrageous that there doesn't seem to be much proactive effort to pay attention to symptoms and stave off potential problems before they get severe. But still, if one believes the NIH, the drone drivers appear to have a pretty low rate of problems compared to the "boots on the ground" people:
"Alcohol abuse is the most prevalent problem and one which poses a significant health risk. A study of Army soldiers screened 3 to 4 months after returning from deployment to Iraq showed that 27 percent met criteria for alcohol abuse and were at increased risk for related harmful behaviors (e.g., drinking and driving, using illicit drugs). And although soldiers frequently report alcohol concerns, few are referred to alcohol treatment. Research findings highlight the need to improve screening and access to care for alcohol-related problems among service members returning from combat deployments.
Mental illness among military personnel is also a major concern. In another study of returning soldiers, clinicians identified 20 percent of active and 42 percent of reserve component soldiers as requiring mental health treatment. Drug or alcohol use frequently accompanies mental health problems and was involved in 30 percent of the Army's suicide deaths from 2003 to 2009 and in more than 45 percent of non-fatal suicide attempts from 2005 to 2009."