Workload is mentally damaging to our troops

The intensifying demands of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are leading to mental health problems among the armed forces, researchers say.

The increase in the pace of military operations means soldiers, aircrew and naval personnel are being deployed for longer periods and suffering as a result.

Excessive drinking, post-traumatic stress disorder and difficulties at home all rose in military personnel deployed for 13 months or more in total over a three year period.

This is the limit recommended by the UK armed forces in what are called the "harmony guidelines". The limit is set in recognition of the need of soldiers to balance rest and recuperation with deployment. However, researchers found almost a third of the combat troops among the 5,500 participants in the study were deployed for at least this length of time.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal and led by Roberto Rona, the professor of public health at Kings College London, showed that it was the total time spent on deployment, rather than the number of tours, that was linked to increased mental health problems.

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