Military suicide rate on the rise.

[Epidemic]

I see all sorts of hype on the military suicide rate but I find it interesting that it is virtually the same as the general population.

Army suicides have been climbing since 2007, bringing the rate to 22 per 100,000 soldiers. The rate among civilians within the same age group is 20 per 100,000. The Marine Corps has seen an increase since 2008 and its rate is 24 per 100,000. But there, too, the trend may be downward

The most amazing part of this story is not that the military is not doing enough to reduce suicide, it would seem that we want to know how to apply what the military is doing to the general population.

I mean with what these people are up against, compared with the silly problems of many civillians should mean the military should have a devastating suicide rate all things being equal besides the stresses.

Normal Military stresses:
Away from family for extended periods
Having restricted rights
Long hours
Little pay
Cheating Spouses

War time stresses:
Friends being killed
Threat of death constantly
Having to kill
PTSD
Injury


The question is why is the military not having a 100 or 200 per 100,000 suicide rate???

I am not saying the military can't do more but they are doing amazing it would appear.

[tony_j15]

Link?

[Epidemic]

well the source of my thought was a radio broadcast talking about articles like this but I just wondered how civillian rate stacked up against military rate.

I only read the numbers in the article but I found it interesting how similar the rates are considering the difference in hardship. It was counter intuitive to me so I posted it.

[tony_j15]

The NYTimes has an article about military suicides today. For the year to date, there have been more suicides than there have been battlefield deaths.

Veterans do have access to counseling services that the average person might not know about, have access to, or cannot afford. That, I think, contributes to keeping the rate lower. But I also think we can and should do more to get the rate down further. Below the national average, if possible.

[The Real Bingo]

It is a problem, but unlike in the civilian world, if you have good management, they will discuss openly the issue of suicide. No one really talks about it elsewhere. We had a couple recent suicides on post and that hits home and brings about more discussion. There is always someone to call or somewhere to go, but people in the military more than anyone else usually ignore/suppress any problems, not admitting something is wrong because that may be perceived as weakness.

[Theophylact]

There's another thing: People in the military are almost by definition healthy, physically fit and (mostly) young. They're hardly representative of the population. Lots of people commit suicide because they're old or sick. It would be interesting to see the rates for veterans of our recent wars, many of whom are scarred physically or mentally.

[sharder8]

Let's look at the numbers from a different perspective . . .

Military & Veteran Suicides

Active Duty Military: 154 suicides for active-duty troops (1 per day) in the first 155 days of the year

Veterans: 2,790 suicides for veterans (18 per day) in the first 155 days of the year

And since tony asked for a link . . . Suicides among U.S. troops averaging one a day in 2012

That answers your ? as well Theo.

To be honest, TRB sees it only from the inside on this one . . . and he's pretty much right. It's a tough topic, when everyone is looking at each other and expects to be able to count on them when the time comes.

For the Veterans on the outside, it's been the dirty little secret and the VA has been extremely slow at addressing the problem. It took a Federal Judge to order the VA to come up with a plan to address the issue in a timely manner. The VA is still working to address the issue and improvement is slow. There are Vet's that are having to wait months to be seen for their PTSD. Often times, the VA has been noted for prescribing drugs and sending the Vet on his way, then forgetting about them. Civilian and Veteran's organizations have been picking up the ball and working with the Vet and VA, to get the Vet's the help the need and deserve, in a timely manner.


Harder

[sharder8]

<bump> For more discussion <bump>




Harder

[sharder8]

<bump>

No more discussion on this guys???

Or is this a topic to be ignored, like the VA chooses?

[Theophylact]

You asked for it, you got it.

[sharder8]

You asked for it, you got it.

SAD!

For some reason, I can't find it a joking matter . . .

I also can't see the C-in-C responding that way . . .


Harder

[Theophylact]

That's because you're not nearly as good a hater as Ted Rall. He's been as vicious to Obama for the last three-and-a-half years as he was to Dubya.

On the other hand, he's been to Afghanistan at least twice, without protective cover as "Press". Here's his most recent cartoon blog on the subject.