Report: A record 109 soldier suicides this year

[CommunityEditor]

A record number of soldiers — 109 — have killed themselves this year, according to Army statistics showing confirmed or suspected suicides.

The deaths occur as soldiers serve longer combat deployments and the Army is spending $100 million on support programs.

“Soldiers, families and equipment are stretched and stressed,” Gen. George Casey, Army chief of staff, told Congress last month.

The Army provided suicide statistics to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Her staff shared them with USA Today.

Those numbers show 77 confirmed suicides Army-wide this year through Nov. 27 and 32 other deaths pending final determination as suicides.

The Army on Wednesday updated those statistics, confirming 85 suicides, including 27 in Iraq and four in Afghanistan.

The highest number of Army suicides recorded since 1990 was 102 in 1992 — a period when the service was 20 percent larger than today.

A total of 109 suicides this year would equal a rate of 18.4 per 100,000, the highest since the Army started counting in 1980. The civilian suicide rate was 11 per 100,000 in 2004, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The military hasn’t erased the stigma surrounding mental health issues, so troubled soldiers often do not seek help, Murray said.

“I want to say I’m surprised [by the suicide increase],” she said. “But when we’re not doing everything we can to deal with mental health, when we know the Army is under such stress, it’s not a surprise. It has to be a wake-up call.”

The Army has moved more aggressively in recent years to stem suicides, instituting mandatory training for every soldier about mental health and establishing a program to study its suicides.

Research released by the Army in August shows that almost 70 percent of suicides in 2006 were spurred by failed relationships.

The Army continues to improve its suicide prevention programs, spokesman Paul Boyce said Wednesday. A hot line — 800-342-9647 — is also available.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, records show that 128 soldiers have killed themselves while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.



Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...uicide_071213/

The 2004 male ages 18-44 suicide rate is over 20% per the Center for Deisease Control. We are below the national norm especially when considering our soldiers exposure to war and access to weapons. We will continue to work to prevent suicide as an option.

Do these figures apply to the Army, only, and do they include the discharged?

[The Universal Curmudgeon_guest]

Originally Posted by Chaplain

The 2004 male ages 18-44 suicide rate is over 20% per the Center for Deisease Control. We are below the national norm especially when considering our soldiers exposure to war and access to weapons. We will continue to work to prevent suicide as an option.

I do hope that you mean "over 20 per 100,000" (0.02%) and NOT 20% (which would be 20,000 per 100,000).