For the second year in a row, the U.S. military has lost more troops to suicide than it has to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Congress.org.
The reasons are complicated and the accounting uncertain, according to the website — for instance, should returning soldiers who take their own lives after being mustered out be included?
But the suicide rate is a further indication of the stress that military personnel live under after nearly a decade of war, the website states.
Figures released by the armed services last week showed an alarming increase in suicides in 2010, but those figures leave out some categories, the website says.
Overall, the services reported 434 suicides by personnel on active duty, significantly more than the 381 suicides by active-duty personnel reported in 2009, the website says.
The 2010 total is below the 462 deaths in combat, excluding accidents and illness. In 2009, active-duty suicides exceeded deaths in battle, the website says.
Monday, January 24, 2011
In war, killing is down; suicide is up
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4 comments:
This is such a disturbing trend. I know the military is trying to address it, but they're just not there yet. For instance, I do some volunteer work with suicide survivors, and more than one has told me that the military's "first responders" to a suicide call teased and bullied the suicidal person insead of assessing and helping. As long as this behavior continues, I'm afraid we are going to keep losing soldiers and veterans at an alarming rate.
Debra Stang
Alliant Professional Networking Specialist
A Great Source for Online CE
I believe most suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. I've heard this doctor in Chicago is doing wonderful things with this issue. Dr. Botkin. http://induced-adc.com/
I'm actually looking to get trained by him in then near future. Anyone else hear of this training.
I agree with Debra. This is such a disturbing trend. I think that it's important for the community to understand what our soldiers go through and be there to support them.
I could not even begin to understand fully the magnitude of what our armed forced have to contend with on a daily basis all I know is that I ha great respect for each and every one of them. Suicide is a waste regardless of who chooses it over life there are a lot of really discouraged people in this world so please reach out to your neighbors you never know just how important you may be till you act.
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