Soldiers Enter Military With Higher Rates of Mental Illness

Soldiers entering the U.S. Army have higher rates of mental illness than the general public, according to a study authored by Center-affiliated faculty member Ronald Kessler and other researchers. Because soldiers may develop additional conditions during their service, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, Kessler says they are at increased risk for suicide. Kessler is the McNeil Family Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School.