Soldier Suicide Rate May Set Record Again

Total Could Eclipse 115 Suicides In 2007; Army Urges More Prevention Efforts

(CBS/AP)  Soldier suicides this year could surpass the record rate of last year, Army officials said Thursday, urging military leaders at all levels to redouble prevention efforts for a force strained by two wars.

As of the end of August, there were 62 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers and Guard and Reserve troops called to active duty, officials said. Another 31 deaths appear to be suicides but are still being investigated.

If all are confirmed, that means that the number for 2008 could eclipse the 115 of last year - and the rate per 100,000 could surpass that of the civilian population, Col. Eddie Stephens, deputy director of human resources policy, said at a Pentagon news conference.

"Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both soldiers and their families," Army Secretary Pete Geren said.

"The Army is committed to ensuring that all soldiers and their families receive the behavioral health care they need," he said in a statement distributed at the press conference on National Suicide Prevention Week starting Sunday.

"Installations and units across the Army have been directed to redouble their efforts in awareness and prevention training and soldier care and support services," Stephens said.

To try to stem the continually growing number of suicides, the Army already has been increasing the number of staff psychiatrists and other mental health staff as well as chaplains and bolstering programs both at home and at the battlefronts. Officials also are about to issue a new interactive video for troops and will be adding a new program on resilience to basic training starting in January, said Brig. Gen. Rhonda L. Cornum, an assistant Army surgeon general.

"There are no simple problems and there are no simple solutions," Cornum said. "There is no program that has been shown to be truly effective at preventing suicides ... Success will be the sum of a number of smaller steps."

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Members of Congress heard testimony in early May from VA officials - following CBS News reports that the department tried to cover up an epidemic of suicide among veterans. Click here to read Armen Keteyian's report.

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As officials have said before, Cornum said the main factors in soldier suicides continues to be problems with their personal relationships, legal and financial issues, work problems and the repeated deployments and longer tour lengths prompted by an Afghan war entering its eighth year and Iraq campaign in its sixth.

The Army has come under unprecedented stress as the main force in the two largely ground wars.

Of the confirmed deaths so far this year, three soldiers were in the Army Reserves and four in the Army National Guard.

If the overall numbers continue through December as they have been, Stephens said, they would eclipse the 115 of 2007, 102 in 2006, 87 in 2005 and 67 in 2004.

The rate per 100,000 soldiers also has been rising and could be surpassed. It was 18.1 per 100,000 last year - the highest since the Army started keeping record in 1980. That compared to a rate of 17.5 in 2006 and 9.8 in 2002 - the first full year after the start of the war in Afghanistan.

The rate for 2008 has not been calculated, officials said, but if the trend holds, it would surpass the demographically adjusted rate of 19.5 per 100,00 for the civilian population, Stephens said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the suicide rate for U.S. society overall was about 11 per 100,000 in 2004, the latest year for which the agency has figures. But the Army says that when civilian rates are adjusted to cover the same age and gender mix that exists in the Army - a younger and largely male population - the civilian rate is more like 19.5 per 100,000.

The Army has come under unprecedented stress as the main force in the two largely ground wars.

The Marine Corps, the second biggest force in Iraq - and even younger and more male than the Army - had a rate of 16.5 per 100,000 in 1007, the last year readily available. The Air Force and Navy had rates of a little over 10 per 100,000, according to defense records.

Col. Carl Castro, director of military operational medical research for the Army, said that in addition to the many programs officials are trying, there needs to be a cultural shift in the military to get people to focus more on mental health and fitness.

"It takes some time ... to get a cultural shift," he said "Sometimes they take decades."

In addition to suicide prevention programs, the Pentagon also has been working to encourage troops to seek mental health care by reducing the stigma associated with getting help. Officials believe many who need help don't get it because they fear it will hurt their careers.

Officials last year also budgeted $25 million for the "Strong Bonds" program, run by chaplains and aimed at strengthening personal relationships strained by long and repeated separations as well as other stresses.

As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, an increasing number of troops have been turning to medication to deal with the stress of battle. Each year, between 20 and 40 soldiers are evacuated from war zones for mental problems brought on by combat, reported CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin, and many more stay in the battle with the help of medication.

A recent survey found 12 percent of soldiers in Iraq reported taking either anti-depressants or sleeping pills. That works out to about 19,000 soldiers, half of them using anti-depressants.

[babooph]

Whoa-John is a veteran !!If elected a sucide watch better NEVER be eased!!!!!!!

[babooph]

When there is only ONE way out , why be surprised when many take it ??

[makemyday2da]

Suicide rates among veterans are VERY understated. My oldest son, an Iraq vet, is in a VA hospital in treatment for severe PTSD and undergoing testing for TBI (or Traumatic Brain Injury, according to his doctors, he has all the symptons). His latest suicide attempt put him there after transfer from a local hospital in his area. In the days before his treatment, we knew of 5-6 suicides in the preceding week which included a chaplain. What''s going on here?! It''s an epidemic and will only get worse if McLame is elected!

[willielump13]

This is so sad,I am one that is waiting for an updated report about my grandson who passed away this passed July 9th 2008,he is a Marine,served in Iraq this year also,was found dead in the morning as he didn''t show up for roll call,you see I think that we the people ,by this goverment one thing face to face,but also I think that there is a coverup going on here,still waitng for the report on cause of my grandsons passing,Oh Tommy is his name and he was only 21yra young,and left a daughter & wife.

[samsel3]

Bush & Cheney spying on the Prime Minister is a no brainer. Risk of Oil contracts with Russia.

The reason the US wants to stay in Iraq is they don t want the Russians signing contracts for Iraqi oil.

Before the Iraq invasion & occupation Russia was one of Iraqs largest oil customers. Russia is the second largest supplier of Oil on the planet. They are the Saudis competition.

The Saudis and BIG OIL used Bush to get rid of Saddam because he was undercutting their oil sales and profits by selling cheap to Russia. This caused a depression of oil market prices which hit historic lows prior to the Iraq invasion.

[midvale3]

"No gun, no more power."

That is why I think Americans like their guns so much. It makes them feel "powerful" instead of "powerless".

I read an article on here a long time ago, saying that the military was going to stop the physical and mental abuse. I wonder if they have?



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Posted by erasmus81 at 01:14 PM : Sep 05, 2008


The "gun" as you imply isn''t the problem. It''s the trama of what they have seen and experienced. Stress is a deadly thing if not handled properly and these numbers are a reflection of the militaries inability to develope an effective solution.

[erasmus81]

"Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both soldiers and their families," Army Secretary Pete Geren said.

And when they are in "training", they are physically and mentally abused. Their self-esteem is crushed. They feel hopeless and powerless. And after they finish doing that, they stick a gun in their hand and are told to KILL. That gun would make them feel powerful, but when they return home, that gun is taken away. No gun, no more power. Where does that leave them? Back with the low self-esteem and it is going to be much worse now.

"No gun, no more power."

That is why I think Americans like their guns so much. It makes them feel "powerful" instead of "powerless".

I read an article on here a long time ago, saying that the military was going to stop the physical and mental abuse. I wonder if they have?

[inventagod2]

Interesting that Patriot Day falls on 9/11 this year...

[midvale3]

Don''''t pity me....listen, learn.

The point I was trying to make is that too many people, like yourself, look at a "statistic" then have a knee jerk reaction.

We are dealing with small numbers here...that is why the story is using the percent analogy.

If the story simply said "There has been an additional 10 suicides among veterans out of 140000 troops...." it wouldn''''t carry the same umph.


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Posted by tiddsanbeer at 11:20 AM : Sep 05, 2008

Thanks, but I don''t need to listen and learn from you. I have seen enough statistical manipulation the last 8 years to last a lifetime. The service members are being abuse, that is fact. The number of rotations has increased and intervals beteen deployment and home has decreased. Couple that with decreasd enlistment, calling up inactive reserve troops, stop loss, the uncertain combat conditions with friend from foe being hard to determine, family probelms from separation, feeling neglected when returning, horrendious injuries being survived at an unprecedented rate but requiring extensive therapy that isn''t always being given, you are full of Bullsh1t if you dismiss this as a manipulation of numbers. I''m so sick of these people having to die so you fake a@@ "patriots" can thump your chest. Anyone who votes for another 4 years of the treatment the Republicans have delived to our troops is guilty of treason in my opinion.

[kridgew]

Something has got to give. When will this all come to an end? The question here is not a matter of who is patriotic or not, the issue, regardless of numbers, high or low, that men and women, civilian and military, are resulting to a drastic measure that can be prevented with proper tools. Maybe, if everyone would cast aside their pessimistic opinions and biased views, maybe just one life could be perpetuated to enjoy our country%u2019s pillars or life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. That Declaration made 232 years ago notes those three are every American''s "inalienable rights" You must have life before anything else. Let''s work on helping each other out in positive and productive ways so we all may continue to experience true liberty and happiness.

[armydog2]

The suicide rate among these Soldiers and Veterans is at epidemic proportions. This is not the media or anyone else hypeing this up it is a fact! I work at a VA Hospital and see it and hear about it everyday! And yet the repubs in congress and yes mccain do not want assured funding for our VA Hospitals, this is not pork Senator this is the result of the likes of you sending these Soldiers into a war for your f@cking president and staying the party line.You are a disgrace mccain and so are the rest of your neocon cohorts!

[midvale3]

The U.S needs to exercise a little initiative and just ask these soldiers if they think any of thier fellow soldiers need any special glances in thier direction and this can cut off the snakes head.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by tootall10142 at 09:57 AM : Sep 05, 2008

Have you read any of the articles in US News? The ARMY is just giving them PROZAC or similar and sending the back to the combat area. They are desperate to fill boots (see GED help). This is the TRUE Patriotic GOP. We can''t do a draft because we''ve been saying it can be handled like a business, yet the economy is such that less fortunate in money or education are forced into the service and pay the piper for the apathy of the majority that vote Repug.

[t-0-m]

Thank you George!

[midvale3]

How do you know how many soldiers did NOT commit suicide BECAUSE they went to war and REALLY LOVED SERVING THEIR COUNTRY....MANY ACTUALLY LIKE WHAT THEY DO....MANY ARE CAREER MILITARY....***.


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Posted by tiddsanbeer at 09:10 AM : Sep 05, 2008


You are a sad, messed up little person. I pity you.

[midvale3]

a war for no reason, suicides, nobody is held accountable, and this country of imbeciles is still considering voting for the scums that sent them there again. How many times does it take to be fooled?


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Posted by andrew_693 at 11:16 PM : Sep 04, 2008

That''s exactly the frustration I feel. How do you get through to the people who say McCain isn''t Bush; HE"S STILL A REPUBLICAN AND THIS IS THEIR PLATFORM!!!

[harp1963]

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you''re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don''t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don''t give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor''s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you''re hardest hit--
It''s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

[tootall10142]

The U.S needs to exercise a little initiative and just ask these soldiers if they think any of thier fellow soldiers need any special glances in thier direction and this can cut off the snakes head.there were some suicides in the vietnam war but not like the reasons for todays reasons.One of the problems is the soldiers are being lied to about when thet are going home and thier hope and faith in thier govt. is failing in massive numbers.I blame the administtration more than the war enviroment.Even a horse gets to rest after working all day and soldiers need the same.The lifers are there and will go and fight anywhwere anything any time.Il bet a months pay the suicides are among activated guardsman are the highest and and are the most frequent.Youre hard wired combat soldier doesnt sweat the small things that seem so overwhelming to a activated guardsman.

[misha128-2009]

Again the failed policies of an administration and a party that repeatedly call for less and less and even when proven there is too little available apply a temporary band-aid to a crisis and return to their dogma of less and less. Resulting in a return to the same crisis in a short period of time. This is a time for real change and no more band aids. NO MORE LESS AND LESS POLICY TIME FOR A PROPER RESPONSE POLICY!

[omnibus66]

The article totally ignores the fact that the suicide rate for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan is twice that of non-veterans.

The VA puts the figure at more than 5000 for 2007. That''s almost 14 ex-soldiers taking their own life EVERY DAY. This is the most tragic consequence of the Bush madness.

Add up the effect of the combat deaths, civilian deaths, the veteran suicides, the massive number of crippling injuries, the cost in dollars, the rest of the world considering us a joke, and then ask yourself if it was worth it.

If you answer ''yes'', then I truly pity you, for your ability to reason has been effectively stripped away by others. Seek help now.

If the surge is working and the irresistable march of history has proven the ideology of freedom the superior force, why are these guys killing themselves? Has putting "Country FIRST" proven a hollow talking point for John McCain after all? What a pyrrhic victory! God Bless the Peacemaker. And that is not a missile, submarine or Republican.