VETERANS SUFFERING FROM PTSD CALL FOR STRONGER PREVENTION

ZAGREB, May 27 (Hina) - The Association of Croatian Veterans Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Saturday calls on competent institutions to improve preventive measures so that tragedies, like the one which happened in Vinkovci two days ago, could be avoided, representatives of the Association told reporters on Saturday. The Association's president Dr. Herman Vukusic said research had proven that the danger of suicide is twice higher among war veterans than among other citizens. The veteran who caused the tragedy in Vinkovci did not undergo treatment for PTSD, but he must have suffered from a mental disease, Vukusic said. "Such moves made by veterans are preceded by psycho- social stress, such as the loss of job or the status of war invalid," Vukusic said. He believes members of the Ministry of Homeland War Soldiers in the former government are to blame for the current situation. The Association, which gathers some 4,500 members, hopes the new law on the rights of Croatian soldiers will appropriately define this disease and equalise the rights of veterans suffering from PTSD with those of wounded veterans. (hina) rml