Ten percent of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel were showing signs of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or similar psychological problems as of fiscal 2013, the Mainichi Shimbun has learned.
The finding is from a Defense Ministry survey of all SDF members conducted annually from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2015. The ministry believes the ailments are attributable in part to the severe stress endured by SDF members coming home from serving in South Sudan, where Japan is contributing to a United Nations peacekeeping operation.
The survey results for fiscal 2013-2015 obtained by the Mainichi showed that 21,223 SDF members, or 10 percent of the respondents, were showing signs of depression in fiscal 2013. The ratio declined thereafter, but 7.1 percent of respondents, or 13,684 SDF personnel, were still reporting depressive tendencies in the fiscal 2015 survey.
Furthermore, 1,976 SDF troops showed signs of PTSD in fiscal 2013, a figure that dropped to 1,013 in fiscal 2015.
Read the full story at The Mainichi