The Army Surgeon General reports the number of post-traumatic stress disorder cases increased 50 percent last year.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka calls the finding "alarming and cause for immediate action by the government as a whole."

In response to the report, the island Democrat has asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to work with the Department of Defense to address the problem.

Akaka says that working together, VA and DOD could develop a serious plan to deal with the increase in the number of cases.

He says the cost of untreated mental health needs includes the dissolution of families, unemployment, homelessness and suicide.