The worse a war goes, the worse the people fighting in it feel — and vice versa.

So says a new Army study. Troops in Afghanistan reported lower morale as fighting there got worse, while troops in Iraq reported better morale. But altogether, people were more likely to show mental strain the longer they were deployed.

This seems pretty logical. The real news may be that the armed services are considering adding more mental-health staff to handle the needs of troops facing longer stints.

Psychologist Janet M. Kamer, a colonel in the Air Force Reserve, wrote to the Chicago Tribune Magazine in response to a feature story on a soldier with post-traumatic stress disorder to point out some services the military offers.

She also issues this request:

I would challenge the U.S. mental health community to help serve our wounded warriors. Last year only half the psychology residency positions were filled in the Air Force because of lack of applicants-despite the fact that the Air Force will reimburse tuition loans and will pay beginning captains far more than they would make in the private sector.

Any students or young mental-health workers out there want to take Kamer up on her offer?