Shocking figures show one U.S. soldier commits suicide EVERY DAY

SamH · #1 Jun 8, '12, 6:46 am

Quote:

Suicides are surging among America's troops, averaging nearly one a day this year - the fastest pace in the nation's decade of war.

The 154 suicides for active-duty troops in the first 155 days of the year far outdistance the U.S. forces killed in action in Afghanistan - about 50 per cent more - according to Pentagon statistics obtained by The Associated Press.

The numbers reflect a military burdened with wartime demands from Iraq and Afghanistan that have taken a greater toll than foreseen a decade ago. The military also is struggling with increased sexual assaults, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and other misbehavior.

The part of the story I found most intersting:

Quote:

Army data suggest soldiers with multiple combat tours are at greater risk of committing suicide, although a substantial proportion of Army suicides are committed by soldiers who never deployed.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1xD2J2dOF

vz71 · #2 Jun 8, '12, 7:00 am

Or we can turn that headline on its head...

Shocking figures show that more then one non-soldier commits suicide every day.

wondrousgnat · #3 Jun 8, '12, 8:43 am

What is the percentage of civilians who commit suicide? I would like to know those stats to compare before drawing conclusion.

To join the military today you have to be able to pass a lot of tests. No criminal record, no drug arrests, no more than two DUIs. Minimum high school diploma. Your juvenile record is opened. It is easier to become an officer in a bank than it is to enlist.

ringil · #4 Jun 10, '12, 6:43 am

Much of this is due to the continued stigma against mental illness in society in general, and in the millitary, in particular.

The millitary is really working at this, and I give them props. for that. There's just so much more to be done.

Not all wounds are visible.

exoflare · #5 Jun 10, '12, 11:54 am

One of the comments below the article. Is this true?

Quote:

This article comes up every few months and quietly disappears when it is once again pointed out that the suicide rate in the US military is actually below the level in the general population.

vz71 · #6 Jun 10, '12, 11:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellipsis2

Wow! So much for honoring our troops. The lack of concern for these poor souls who take their own life at the rate of one per day is astounding. God Bless America.

Who said anything about honor or dishonor.

I'm simply commenting on the ono-statement made in the study.

There is not enough information provided to determine if this is really so 'shocking'

tarboy · #7 Jun 10, '12, 8:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellipsis2

Wow! So much for honoring our troops. The lack of concern for these poor souls who take their own life at the rate of one per day is astounding. God Bless America.

Suicides are higher than combat deaths,
Both are tragic

Articles with no proper perspective are only good for shock. Why didn't they normalize the data and give it as xx per 1,000?

I've seen it stated that suicides increase during recessions, so maybe I'll write a fair and balanced article like "Suicide rates increasing due to Obama's failed economic policies!"

SamH · #8 Jun 11, '12, 5:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by exoflare

One of the comments below the article. Is this true?

Under Bush it was - under Obama - no.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/us...cord-high.html

Quote:

Active-duty Army suicide rates have been higher than civilian rates since 2008, when there were nearly 20 suicides per 100,000 in the Army, compared with close to 18 suicides per 100,000 in a civilian population that was adjusted to be comparable to Army demographics. The Army projects that final 2011 numbers will be more than 24 suicides among active-duty soldiers per 100,000, another record high.

bethndanny · #9 Jun 11, '12, 9:43 am

Was this news article posted on here before? I thought that I had read it already, and a poster had commented that this is what happens when people kill others, or something to that effect.

But then as SamH highlighted, there is a good portion of those who have killed themselves have not deployed. I wonder what data the Army has that it is viewing multiple combat tours as a suicide risk.

Off to see if I can find the percentage of suicides that were non deployers....

Yerusalyim · #10 Jun 12, '12, 3:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by bethndanny

Was this news article posted on here before? I thought that I had read it already, and a poster had commented that this is what happens when people kill others, or something to that effect.

But then as SamH highlighted, there is a good portion of those who have killed themselves have not deployed. I wonder what data the Army has that it is viewing multiple combat tours as a suicide risk.

Off to see if I can find the percentage of suicides that were non deployers....

I used to have that type of data at my fingertips...before I retired from the military. The military is a high-stress environment and we just don't take as good care of our soldiers as we should.

mexolic · #11 Jun 12, '12, 6:45 pm

Perhaps the army does not want the suicide figures made known. That would probably
discourage some people to join. What do the chaplains know and can suggest about this problem?

bearer · #12 Jun 12, '12, 6:53 pm

When you consider that in the US there are an average of 94 suicides and 1,042 suicide attempts per day, the statistics in the article don't seem quite that shocking. This journalist may be making something out of a nothing, although I do note that the suicide and violent crime rate in the military has slightly increased in the past year.

The fact that this news writer first chalks up this suicide increase to wartime burdens and then, a few paragraphs later, writes that the causes are not fully understood causes me to dismiss the article as unscientific drivel. Not the Daily Mail wasn't to begin with.

7 Sorrows · #13 Jun 12, '12, 7:13 pm

i am not sure if there are still troops from Canada, England, France, Australia over in the Middle East in Iraq or Afghanistan anymore helping the U.S., but i woud be curious if there is a high suicide rate among those troops as well.

wondrousgnat · #14 Jun 13, '12, 6:01 am

What are the suicide rates for other professions and how do they compare? I once heard that the worst professions for suicie were psychologists and psychiatrists (the ones who are supposed to help).

bethndanny · #15 Jun 13, '12, 7:24 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yerusalyim

I used to have that type of data at my fingertips...before I retired from the military. The military is a high-stress environment and we just don't take as good care of our soldiers as we should.

I agree it is high stress and that we should take better care of our service members, there is always room for improvement. However, if the suicide rate isn't significantly higher than the general population, while still tragic, it isn't "shocking". It IS a high stress environment, and I think that the rate has been lower than the civilian rate (before - not now as SamH pointed out) is good news.

I do HATE that any service member (or anyone for that matter) gets to the point that suicide is an option. I just am not sure what makes this shocking. IMO the only shocking thing is that they are suggesting that deployments are the cause, while stating that a good portion of those committing suicide have never deployed.