The results of the fourth survey conducted by the U.S. Army’s Mental Health Advisory Team (MHAT-IV) were released Friday (the day all bad news is released so it’ll make the little-read Saturday newspapers). They don’t paint a pretty portrait of current stress, depression and morale levels in Iraq — especially with the recent increase in tour length from 12 to 15 months.

From the Army’s press release:

• Soldiers who deployed longer (greater than six months) or had deployed multiple times were more likely to screen positive for a mental health issue.
• Approximately 10 percent of soldiers reported mistreating non-combatants or damaging their property when it was not necessary.
• Less than half of soldiers and Marines would report a team member for unethical behavior.
• More than one-third of all soldiers and Marines reported that torture should be allowed to save the life of a fellow soldier or Marine.
• The 2006 adjusted rate of suicides per 100,000 soldiers was 17.3 soldiers, lower than the 19.9 rate reported in 2005, however higher than the Army average of 11.6 per 100,000 soldiers. However, there are important demographic differences between these two soldier populations that make direct comparisons problematic.
• Soldiers experienced mental health problems at a higher rate than Marines.
• Deployment length was directly linked to morale problems in the Army.
• Leadership is key to maintaining soldier and Marine mental health.
• Both soldiers and Marines reported at relatively high rates – 62 and 66 percent, respectively – that they knew someone seriously injured or killed, or that a member of their team had become a casualty.

A news analysis from The New York Times has this to add on mental health problems’ possible effects on Gen. Petraeus’ new COIN strategy:

The fourth in a continuing series, the report suggested that extended tours and multiple deployments, among other policy decisions, could escalate anger and increase the likelihood that soldiers or marines lash out at civilians, or defy military ethics.

That is no small concern since the United States’ counterinsurgency doctrine emphasizes the importance of winning the trust and support of the local population.

. . .

The military’s report, which drew on that survey as well as interviews with commanders and focus groups, found that longer deployments increased the risk of psychological problems; that the levels of mental problems was highest — some 30 percent — among troops involved in close combat; that more than a third of troops endorsed torture in certain situations; and that most would not turn in fellow service members for mistreating a civilian.

The Times analysis also looks at some of the reasons behind the stress, depression and low morale being experienced by troops:

The Pentagon’s analysis also identified sources of anger besides lengthy and repeated deployments that could lead to ethics violations, which would not be apparent from the outside: eight-day rest breaks that involved four days of transit; long lines to get into recreation facilities, especially for those who perform missions outside the relative safety of base camps; and inconsistent dress-code rules.

Most of all, there were uncertainties about deployment: 40 percent of soldiers rated uncertain redeployment dates as a top concern.

. . .

The report noted a direct relationship between involvement in intense combat and soldiers who exhibited signs of anxiety, depression and acute stress. Almost 30 percent of soldiers who were engaged in “high combat” were discovered to be suffering from “acute stress,” according to the report.

. . .

But the length of tours in Iraq was another important factor. Soldiers who were deployed for more than six months were one and a half times more likely to exhibit depression or anxiety than those with shorter tours of duty.

Those who had repeatedly served in Iraq were also more likely to suffer from psychological ailments than those who were serving their first tour. The survey showed that 24 percent of those who had done multiple tours suffered from “acute stress,” compared with 15 percent who were on their first tour.

. . .
In general, soldiers experience higher rates of mental health problems than do marines. The morale of the soldiers also tended to be lower than that of marines, who unlike those in the Army typically serve seven-month combat tours in Iraq.

There’s a lot more great information in the analysis, including noting that the report was just now released to the public — seven months after it was provided to Gen. George W. Casey Jr., then the senior American commander in Iraq: “Pentagon officials have not explained why the public release of the report was delayed, a move that kept the data out of the public debate as the Bush administration developed its plan to build up troops in Iraq and extend combat tours.”