KEY POINTS:
British forces who served in Afghanistan are nine times more likely to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder than comrades who have not been sent to war, a report from the Ministry of Defence shows.
Iraq veterans are 6 1/2 times more likely to be affected by the condition than others who were not there.
The study found women in the armed forces suffer almost double the rate of psychological trauma than men, and other ranks are affected more than officers.
Overall, nearly 4000 new cases of mental health disorder were diagnosed last year and that figure, say officials, is expected to rise next year with service personnel now more willing to come forward to talk about their problems.
The study, by Defence Analytical Services and Advice, also cautions that the statistics "do not cover the full picture of all mental disorders in the British armed forces" because the support provided by the "strong culture of comradeship within the armed forces may have served to minimise the number and severity of symptoms experienced by some cases".
Women in the services had mental health disorder assessment at 8.2 per 1000, double that of male personnel at four per 1000, and other ranks were diagnosed at 4.9 per 1000, more than 2 1/2 times that of officers at 1.8 per 1000.
Women comprise 18,100 out of the total strength of 195,100 in the armed forces and have been involved in increasingly important roles in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Five female soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Sergeant Sarah Bryant, of the Intelligence Corps, was killed in Afghanistan five months ago while with the SAS.
- INDEPENDENT
