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Ukrainian soldiers fighting in east suffer from mental disorders: official

Xinhua, May 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

Thousands of Ukrainian servicemen, who participated in the government's military operations against pro-independence insurgents in eastern regions, are suffering from various mental health problems, a senior Ukrainian health official said Thursday.

"About 5,500 soldiers have already undergone mental health treatment, 35 percent of them were transferred to the army reserve due to the mental disorders," Olga Bohomolets, head of the parliamentary committee for healthcare, told a press briefing.

She noted it has been confirmed that about 800 of Ukrainian soldiers have post-traumatic stress disorder, a serious illness which is associated with depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

Bohomolets said that the number of military personnel needing treatment for mental health problems may further increase as many soldiers who participated in the military actions are reluctant to admit that they need professional psychological or psychiatric help.

According to Ukraine's Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, about 195,000 people, including Ukrainian army servicemen, Interior Ministry military personnel and fighters of volunteer battalions have participated in the government's military operations in eastern regions, which started in April 2014. Endi