There's no doubt that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking a tremendous toll on our troops, our veterans and their families. But for all the attention post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has received in recent years, doctors have never had a clear-cut way to diagnose the condition, until now.

Minnesota scientists believe they’ve found a long-sought PTSD fingerprint that confirms the disorder by measuring electromagnetic fields in the brain. The findings could help the 300,000 cases of PTSD anticipated among the 2 million U.S. troops who have gone to war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

While the U.S. military has become better at treating the physical wounds of our troops, the mental ailments are looming larger.

• One study found that as many as 35% of Iraq War veterans have or will suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
• 2008 marked the highest rate of military suicide in decades.
• Suicide rates have been rising every year since the start of the Iraq war.
• Divorce rates among servicemembers, especially female military, are alarming.
• Unemployment rates are up in general but they’re especially high (about 2% higher) among Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans of the active-duty military.
• At least 2,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have shown up in one of our nation's homeless shelters.

PTSD is most commonly associated with combat, but the disorder has been linked to many psychologically traumatic events. It generates severe anxiety along with flashbacks, nightmares and anger, and is generally treated with therapy and medication.

What can you do?

• Send cards to hospitalized veterans or those living in veterans homes
• Help people see war through they eyes of soldiers by hosting a screening of The War Tapes, the first documentary film of the 2003 invasion of Iraq to be produced by the soldiers themselves.