By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY (July 25, 2010)

The number of soldiers who were discharged because of psychological issues rose by 64 percent since 2005, Army statistics show. One in nine discharges is now related to mental health reasons. Discharges among soldiers with a general medical and mental health issue also increased, up 174 percent since 2005. Last year, 1,224 soldiers with a mental health conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, received a discharge.

Last year, 1,224 soldiers with a mental illness, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, received a medical discharge. That was an increase from 745 soldiers in 2005 or about 7% of medical discharges that year, according to personnel statistics provided to USA TODAY.

The trend matches other recent indicators that show a growing emotional toll on a military that has been fighting for seven years in Iraq and nine years in Afghanistan, the Army and veterans advocates say.

"These numbers really just validate the mental health communities' concern about multiple deployments," says Adrian Atizado, who specializes in health issues as assistant national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans. "Mind and body are both taking a beating."

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