Deployment Quote by Joseph Stiglitz
“We noted the psychological problems facing many of the returning from Iraq veterans - of the 700,000 returning veterans, more than a 100,000 have been diagnosed with problems, but the numbers are likely to get worse, as those with multiple deployments return. We should have valued the loss of life as a result of these suicides, using the same procedures we used for the loss of those who died in combat.”
About This Quote
Veterans returning from Iraq face rising mental‑health crises; the scale of suicides should be treated with the same gravity as combat deaths.
In simple terms: Veteran suicide rates need the same seriousness as battlefield casualties.
Key Takeaway
Mental‑health care for veterans must be prioritized equally to combat loss.
Themes
mental health
veteran affairs
policy
suicide prevention
Mood
concerned
somber
Type
policy statement
social commentary
When to use this quote
- Veteran support programs
- Congressional hearings on PTSD
- Hospital counseling services
Key Concepts
social responsibility
public health ethics
Practical Applications
- Allocate funding for veteran mental‑health services
- Adopt uniform reporting standards for suicide and combat deaths
Questions to Reflect On
- How can society balance respect for combat sacrifice with proactive mental‑health support?
- What policies best reduce veteran suicide rates?
A Different Perspective
Equating suicide with combat death may overlook differing causes and interventions needed for each.
![“We’ve done these mental-health assessment team studies for six years now—between nine and twelve [months] is where a lot of the stress problems really manifest themselves, where the family problems really manifest themselves,” former Army chief of staff George Casey said recently. “The human mind…” quote by Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/rachel-maddow-1240_chief-of-staff_we-ve-done-these-mental-health-assessmen_2553601.jpg)
![“World War II was really unusual, because America was in the Great Depression before. So the war did help the US economy to get securely out of this decline. This time, the war [in Iraq] is bad for the economy in both the short and long run. We could have spent trillions in research or education…” quote by Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/860/joseph-stiglitz-1351_america_world-war-ii-was-really-unusual-because_156000.jpg)
