After returning from one of the two countries it was found that one in seven military personal had turned heavily to drink at a rate which is 22 per cent higher than those who remained at home.
The study of 10,000 troops was commissioned after the military received warnings that rising casualty rates and repeated deployments would lead to an epidemic of mental health problems later, something which has already happened in the US.
Troops who were repeatedly deployed to war zone had currently not experienced an increase in mental health issues but experts have said we should prepare. It is thought that the reason this has not yet happened is due to the fact that a troop who comes back suffering with problems is unlikely to be deployed again, therefor making those deployed multiple times are more psychologically robust.
Professor Wessely said the NHS, military mental health services and charities should nevertheless prepare for an increase in the number of personnel returning with mental health problems, because of the increased numbers being committed to Afghanistan.
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