Is the war taking a toll on kids?

A growing number of children of U.S. military troops are seeking mental health care, according to “ Military kids seek more care ,” an Associated Press story published in today’s Spokesman-Review.

Here are some statistics from the article:

• From 2007 to 2008, some 20 percent more children of active duty troops were hospitalized for mental health services.
• Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, inpatient visits among military children have increased 50 percent.
• The total number of outpatient mental health visits for children of men and women on active duty doubled from 1 million in 2003 to 2 million in 2008.

It’s not clear why so many more children are seeking treatment. The story noted that the military has encouraged troops’ family members to seek mental health. At the same time, their need for mental health counseling and treatment coincides with the fact that many service members have had repeated tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as the economic recession.

Do you know any military families? How have the children coped with the absence of a parent deployed overseas? How can we support the spouses and children of these service members?