Guard, Reserves Hit Hardest By Vet Suicide

Study: More Than Half Of Veterans Who Took Own Lives In Recent Wars Were In National Guard, Reserves

(CBS/AP)  More than half of all veterans who took their own lives after returning from Iraq or Afghanistan were members of the National Guard or Reserves, according to new government data that prompted activists on Tuesday to call for a closer examination of the problem.

In November, CBS News was the first to investigate the suicide epidemic in detail and Congress took up the cause in December.

A Department of Veterans Affairs analysis of ongoing research of deaths among veterans of both wars - obtained by The Associated Press - found that Guard or Reserve members accounted for 53 percent of the veteran suicides from 2001, when the war in Afghanistan began, through the end of 2005.

The research, conducted by the department's Office of Environmental Epidemiology, provides the first demographic look at suicides among veterans from those wars who left the military.

Joe Davis, public affairs director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the Pentagon and VA must combine efforts to track suicides among those who have served in those countries in order to get a clearer picture of the problem.

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Read the original CBS News investigation into veteran suicide
Watch the original report.
Read the statistical methodology of the CBS News findings
FYI: More resources for veterans and their families

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"To fix a problem, you have to define it first," Davis said.

At certain times in 2005, members of the Guard and Reserve made up nearly half the troops fighting in Iraq. Overall, they were nearly 28 percent of all U.S. military forces deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan or in support of the operations, according to Defense Department data through the end of 2007.

Many Guard members and Reservists have done multiple tours that kept them away from home for 18 months, and that is taking a toll, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a statement Tuesday.

"Until this administration understands that repeated and prolonged deployments are stretching our brave men and women to the brink, we will continue to see these tragic figures," Murray said.

Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said the military's effort to re-screen Guard and Reservists for mental and physical problems three months after they return home is a positive step, but a more long-term, comprehensive approach is needed to help them.

"National Guardsman and Reservists are literally in Baghdad in one week and in Brooklyn the next, and that transition is incredibly tough," Rieckhoff said.

The VA has said there does not appear to be an epidemic of suicide among returning veterans, and that suicide among the newer veterans is comparable to the same demographic group in the general population. However, an escalating suicide rate in the Army, as well as high-profile suicides such as the death of Joshua Omvig - an Iowa Reservist who shot himself in front of his mother in December 2005 after an 11-month tour in Iraq - have alarmed some members of Congress and advocates.

In November, President Bush signed the Joshua Omvig suicide prevention bill, which directed the VA to improve its mental health training for staff and do a better job of screening and treating veterans.

According to the VA's research, 144 veterans committed suicide from the start of the war in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001, through the end of 2005. Of those, 35 veterans, or 24 percent, served in the Reserves and 41, or 29 percent, had served in the National Guard. Sixty-eight - or 47 percent - had been in the regular military.

Statistics from 2006 and 2007 were not yet available, the VA said, because the study was based in part on data from the National Death Index, which is still being compiled.

Among the total population of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who have been discharged from the military, nearly half are formerly regular military and a little more than half were in the Guard and Reserves, according to the VA.

Among those studied, more than half of the veterans who committed suicide were aged 20 to 29. Nearly three-quarters used a firearm to take their lives. Nearly 82 percent were white.

About one in five was seen at least once at a VA facility.

Last year, the VA started a suicide hot line. The VA and the military have also made other improvements in suicide prevention care, such as hiring more counselors and increasing mental health screening.

"The challenge is getting people to come to us before they commit suicide, knowing they can come and get help and knowing they have access to those resources," said Alison Aikele, a VA spokeswoman.

The VA study does not include those who committed suicide in the war zones or those who remained in the military after returning home from war.

Last year, the Army said its suicide rate in 2006 rose to 17.3 per 100,000 troops, the highest level in 26 years of record-keeping. The Army said recently that as many as 121 soldiers committed suicide last year. If all are confirmed, the number would be more than double the number reported in 2001.

Some mental health advocates have complained that there is no comprehensive tracking in one place of suicide among those who served in the wars, whether they are still in the military or discharged.

In October, the AP reported that preliminary VA research found that from the start of the war in Afghanistan in October 2001 and the end of 2005, a total of 283 troops who had served in the wars and later were discharged from the military had committed suicide.

The VA later said the number was reduced to 144 because some of the veterans counted were actually in the active military and not discharged when they died.

[emma915]

Are you listening Senator McCain? You can stick war up your butt SIDEWAYS!!! We want out troops home!

[bm6005]

I''''ll gladly be the crazy old S.O.B. out front shooting anything that looks like a lawyer!
Posted by Jerkeedoodle

And I''ll proudly stand beside you as another crazy old S.O.B. for all the same reasons!!

[jerkeedoodle]

Huh....Looks as if our dupes,er troops are figuring out they''re nothing but pawns.Guys ''n gals,please don''t take it out on yourselves.Get pissed at the ratbastards that have used you!You decide to get together and take DC back,give me a call.I''ll gladly be the crazy old S.O.B. out front shooting anything that looks like a lawyer!

[bm6005]

And where do you get the stats that only ''''po'''' folk are fighting this war?
Posted by TheGateway1

Please tell me, how many in CONgress have kids in the service of their country? How many rich folk that you know have kids in the service. No wonder you spent over 20, you''re a frickin'' MORON!!

[bm6005]

I''m a Viet Nam vet so kiss my azz. I was referring to Colorado hoping you might live here and pay me a visit. I''d like that! I guess I''d look good in pink on the ole harley. LOL, the dems have all the money? Give me a break it''s the rich republiscum who have the money. So tell me about your combat record twerp!! So does posting the same c rap many times make up for your little d ick?

[bm6005]

My father was away from home for 3 1/2 YEARS during WWII. I was stationed overseas away from my home for 6 years straight. Get over it. 16 months is nothing...

The pooperchute666; You can''t compare WWII to today''s action. The entire country was mobilized not just the po'' folk. Normally I''d thank you for your service but in your case I''ll make an exception. We''re talking 16 months, most likely in combat, don''t give me your chair force tech sgt C rap. How injured can you get fixing a radar system or a jet engine? How far behind the lines were you? Did you suffer any broken bones falling off the bar stools at the EM club? The majority of air force membersw (except pilots) hasn''t seen combat since Viet Nam and you missed that jackass! Did you ever see combat yourself? You talkin'' about your hero GWbushit and his magic NG time? No I ain''t talking about Clinton. Take a look at the service record of your hero Repubs and the current admin. Google "who served". You know we got a lot of retired military in Colorado where I live. Maybe you live here too.

[bb19631]

I am not buying this research,***. Ng. and Reservists 53% suicide rate? Most of these soldiers are former active duty soldiers. They know what they are getting into and what they have to endure. It''s not like they go into blind folded. Most of them are working toward their 20, 30 yr. mark for retirement. Why, would they commit suicide? This is clearly more propagada *** from our government. My husband is NG. he spent 18 months in Iraq,sure he had his issues when he came home they all do, but to commit suicide it never crossed his mind. He spent many years active duty before he went into the NG. He did many tours in conflicts as an infantry soldier. Divorce rate? The government can do research on that!!!

[frankbowers]

I have no sympthy for any of them they voted by a 70% margin over Gore and Kerry (Kerry was a veteran ithe 3 PH''s) and he was a deserter and cheney was a draft dodger with 5 deferments so don''t cry enjoy the bonus and ribbons and the glory of saying I raped a kid and shot a few women. I am ashame of my 3 honorable discharges today. the best of good thoughts Frank Bowers in Austin, TX

[mbcsmith]

Sieg Heil Bush!!


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Posted by MCVet at 04:43 PM : Feb 13, 2008


Hey there tinkerbell. What do you nazis think about this.

[mcvet]

joyous88 and USAyesterday, I,m sure you make the enemys of our country very proud. Such hate and misss guided anger is what they like to see and work towards. I too am unhappy with the approach and time the administration has taken, to say nothing of the loss of life, but get a grip on yourselves.


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Posted by RGMiron at 02:04 PM : Feb 13, 2008
+ report abuse

You have never lost a brother and friend in combat have you? It''s obvious from your attitude! We the People have a right in this nation.. it''s a right that so many of my comrads paid a very high price for. That right is to KNOW that our Commander in Chief is killing our troops because that is the LAST option available. We also, after Vietnan, have a right to KNOW that Commander in Chief is telling us the TRUTH about why they must die. This Pathetic Piece of Human Trash called Bush? He failed on BOTH end''s. He sent those Troops to die when it was NOT necessary AND he lied to all of us about the reason''s he was sending them. It''s all there and all documented. Now my question is why would you have ONE, even ONE kind word to say about a bucket of scum like that? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[rgmiron]

joyous88 and USAyesterday, I,m sure you make the enemys of our country very proud. Such hate and misss guided anger is what they like to see and work towards. I too am unhappy with the approach and time the administration has taken, to say nothing of the loss of life, but get a grip on yourselves.

[bm6005]

No word from Thepooperchute666 yet? Must be a "compassionate conservative" with no service to his country, just like his hero GWBushit!!!!

[bm6005]

Vet_SK

Hopefully I''m not the first but thank you for your service!! I''m truly sorry that we backed that draft dodging, lying SOB (935)! Specifically for the abuse we''ve heaped upon our armed forces. You guys/gals do not deserve this c rap. At least during Viet Nam we got out after rotating back to the world (if we were draftees). I am absolutely boggled by the number our tours you poor b astards are pulling.

[vet_sk]

A Guard member is away from home for 16 months for a deployment. 3+ months train-up and then 12 months in theatre. That''s a long time. Their homes/wives/girlfriends are not on a military base rather in communities - and pretty much on their own.

Let''s see. We lost 10% of of unit in Iraq in combat. Then we come home and we barely recognize our families. Our wives have had affairs...but we''re strong and move on and reintegrate anyway with our families.

I tried to get some counseling and was told by both tricare and the VA that I could go to the local outpatient mentally ill hospital. Sorry, but I wouldn''t set foot in that place. That''s where we are folks. Sad.

I see support the troops stickers and I wonder what people think that means. But then I remember listening to CSPAN and this woman called to ask where she could buy the "cute" stickers for her car that would help support the troops.

Google the Marlboro Marine and see where he is now. It is a great story where a photo-journalists looked him up and ended up just about taking teh gun out of his mouth.

The Guard, the Army, the Marines have been abused in this war. Not only does it not pass muster that Congress should have to actually declare war, but that it was so fiddled f''d up from the beginning. The troops got to Baghdad and then the "great" commander and chief did not have a plan. Wish he would have just stuck to reading My Pet Goat.

[bm6005]

TheGateway1

Shut up! This same thing happens after every war. Tell us all about your illustrious service record before you go on any further with YOUR c rap!! Obviously you know no one who''s served in combat and the baggage they carry!

[patlopez1]

My husband is a member of the National Guard and injured in Afghanistan. When he returned, he was put on medical hold. He spent almost a year on medical hold at Fort Drum and had 3 knee surgeries. I though conditions on Fort Drum for someone recovering from injuires was horrible. I live over 6 hours away and on the day of the surgeries I stayed with my husband in a hotel and drove him to hospital (I could not stay in the post hotel because I did not have orders so I stayed a cheap hotel in town). His second surgery in was in the hospital for 4 days and I stayed by myself and drove back and forth to the hospital to be with him. Once he was released he stayed in the hotel with me but after a week I had to go home and take care of my children. My husband was put in a barracks with the bathroom down the hall and the dayroom upstairs which he climbed daily with his crutches in order to watch TV. He was on very heavy pain medication during this time. Guys from the barracks had to bring him chow. Guys on medical hold had to work weekends and holidays because the active duty guys wanted to be off and go home. It was depressing and sad. I would drive 6 hours each way by myself to Fort Drum as often as I could to try to keep up his spirits. I cried everytime I had to leave him alone in the barracks.

[newz4i]

Bush "cuts and runs" 01/20/2009 at high noon, leaving behind the suicides ... then he''ll be going after some blood money.

Mr. Bush said, %u201CI%u2019ll give some speeches, just to replenish the ol%u2019 coffers.%u201D With assets that have been estimated as high as nearly $21 million, Mr. Bush added, %u201CI don%u2019t know what my dad gets %u2014 it%u2019s more than 50-75%u201D thousand dollars a speech, and %u201CClinton%u2019s making a lot of money.%u201D

[joyous88]

what need to be done???

we need to put bush and cheney and rove in prison and the criminal republican party should be outlawed as the

ANTI-American organization that it is

[mcvet]

Read between the lines of the story, and do a little research, as I showed. This is just a bit of yellow journalism, a-la CBullS style to besmirch and take pot shots at a government they can''''t stand, becuase it has the balls to do what needs to be done, NOT the way that CBullS and it''''s liberal readers want things done.



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Posted by TheGateway1 at 02:16 AM : Feb 13, 2008
+ report abuse

You just do not have a clue do you swastika breath? THE LIES are posted, documented and detailed. There are 935 of them and as a Veteran I say NO AMERICAN should be sent to die for a LIE! No Commander, regardless of where they command should be allowed to retain command when he has sent American''s to die based of PURE DOCUMENTED LIES!! PERIOD!! Now stand and shout it out loud bootlicker... let the fuhrer hear you down in that bunker!! SIEG HEIL BUSH! SIEG HEIL CHENEY!!

[pastdue1]

stand, becuase it has the balls to do what needs to be done" Posted by TheGateway1 at 02:16 AM : Feb 13, 2008.
Would someone please explain what this poster means by "what needs to be done" Did the unholy debaucle in Iraq need to be done ? For what? to increase the violence and hatred toward us in the Middle East and to gain control of Iraq''s oil? What is the "need to" in that? Is the "need to be done" done so that we are constantly in danger from the increasing number of groups who hate the United States? The "need to be done" reasons for being and staying in Iraq have changed so often during the last seven years, that this "need to be done" thing as a logical reason is definitely untenable.