Extended Tours Drive Army Suicide Rates Higher
By Logan Murphy Wednesday Aug 15, 2007 7:41pmAP Via Yahoo:
Ninety-nine U.S. soldiers killed themselves last year, the highest rate of suicide in the Army in 26 years, a new report says.
More than one out of four soldiers who committed suicide did so while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to a report scheduled to be released Thursday. Iraq was the most common deployment location for U.S. soldiers who either attempted suicide or committed suicide.
The report, which The Associated Press obtained ahead of its public release, said the 99 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers compared to 88 in 2005 and was the highest raw number since the 102 suicides reported in 1991, the year of the Persain Gulf War, when there were more soldiers on active duty.
Failed personal relationships, legal and financial problems and the stress of their jobs were factors motivating the soldiers to commit suicide, according to the report. It also found a significant relationship between suicide attempts and the number of days deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan or nearby countries where troops were participating in the war effort. Read more...
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"More than one out of four soldiers"?
I'm surprised it is that low. I would have expected it to be a higher number than that.
2007 - 1991 = 16 years, not 26.
I see the military still sticks to the same old jargon. The official reasons given for suicides are always from some outside infuence or psychological disorder. Never do they even consider or state to the public that it may be the mission itself that is the cause. Especially if that mission is considered to be immoral, unethical or even criminal by the military person assigned to carry it out.
unfortunately it's the only way to get out of Iraq!
It'll get worse once the draft gets reactivated.
But, but, The Republicans and Joe Lieberman say that allowing the troops more time between deployments to spend with their families is... not supporting the troops!
sad...these poor souls see no other way out.......fuckin booosh.......and his dad too
Just one more bloody legacy that BushCo and the war-profiting corporations can write off. I'm sure they give these matters no thought at all. After all, the soldiers enlisted voluntarily.
The cost of doing business, correct corporate America?
warren @ 2:
yeah...that's what I thought...81....the Reagunz admin
what's the total suicide count for this whole f*^#!@& in Iraq
Just Me @ 8:
And, I still find it absolutely amazing (and appalling!) that anyone would still want to enlist today.
So Sad, Ugly to see the horrors of a war when you're not defending your homeland. Keep them honest whenever you can -------------> http://www.YouPolls.com ----- Become a member
We had way more troops in Vietnam then we do in Iraq, but the soldier are doing triple duty in Iraq. They are breaking them to the point where they become battered carcasses by the time the army is through with them. I can't fathom the sense in them doing this. I have seen sweetheart broken up because of school or moving away, and that alone hardly the reason for suicide. I think its callous and denial to blame this on the home front for not supporting the troops.
paranoia @ 13:
But you know Billo,Hannity and Kristol.....oh...and lets not forget Mann Coultergeist the wicked bitch from hell....will no doubtedly blame anyone who questions this so called "preemptive military action..
mudshark @ 7:
And the bitches that whelped them.
The Tip of The Iceberg is just beginning to show. Our soldiers, stretched to their limits, with no or very little time off are being ignored by the Military Brass. Of course having no leave can put extreme stress on a family (divorce) Jobs at home evaporated because they are away too long. Not to mention being in a killing environment day after day, seeing your friends blown to pieces, seeing civilians, children, blown to pieces.
Try to imagine having your wife leaving you, being torn from your children, day after day under extreme duress.
Most importantly, fighting in a man's personal (bush) war, not for our freedom, not for any real reason other than a Neo-Con dream to take over the World. John Birch Society tried this once before and the Dems swept into both houses and the Presidency. Will we get that chance again, or has the system become so broken it can't be fixed.
well feel free to enter the Army's suicide prevention poster contest....
http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/dhpw/Readiness/suicide.aspx
My dark humour thinks this one will win first place...
"Gaws Hates A Quitter"
►Runs-With-Dog◄ @ 16:
And if they come home....their families are left to pick up the pieces.Imagine what their family lives will be like?
The system is broken because its paid and bought for. Until we can get the lobbyist out of DC, the problem we are having will never be solve. We all know the evil of board member and the CEO that run the corporation just to serve them. The regulation from the govt is what kept them in line to protect the worker. We have not only deregulate the corporation, but we have also deregulate the constitution.
This is what the world of "Back to the future" part 2 looks like, when Biff took over the country.
►Runs-With-Dog◄ @ 16:
I am ready to do my second tour of duty. I leave in two weeks for Afghanistan. It is very hard to keep your head in the game when you are just trying to survive. The psychologial debrief when you return stateside is a joke. Just fill out this questionnarie and have a nice day.The system is so overwhelmed that when you finally do get to see someone, it might be too late. It would be nice to have a decent safety net in place so you don't have to worry about whether or not you will be taken care of.
Van @ 20:
►Runs-With-Dog◄ @ 21:
Somehow my writing got sent to the middle of that quote. sorry.
►Runs-With-Dog◄ @ 21:
Thanks. We really appreciate everyones support. I just want our country back!
SpankyTheMonkey @ 11:
My future son-in-law enlisted. He chose a field that he hopes will keep him out of Iraq, but he's bright enough to know that the risk is still there.
But the economic realities of our area made this option attractive to him. It was the only way that he could:
A. Afford to marry young.
B. Provide healthcare for my daughter (his bride).
C. Afford healthcare and life insurance for himself.
D. Put money away for the future (huge signing bonus for a young man with no college).
E. Afford housing for them both.
The Republican neglect of working people in America has produced the conditions that make the military seem viable.
Unfortunately, they have also made the military intolerable through their neglectful support and illegal invasion.
I wouldn't think less of you if you ran to Canada.
If you want your country back, seem like we could use soldier on the home front. While your fighting over there, we are losing over here.
paranoia @ 26:
I agree. Good thing that my number didn't come up after Katrina.
Shannon @ 24:
Shannon @ 24:
As far as Iraq is concerned...is it worth losing your life for?Your family will probably need the life ins,heath care..I'd take my chances here...Future money....I"ll find work and get by..money comes and goes.Housing....live within your means.And make do until you can move up.And the first one ...marrying young....WAIT..
Shannon.....they told my nephew the same thing.....he's 19 and has gotten 1 purple heart on his first tour
the guy next to him wasn't so lucky....he came home in a flag draped coffin.
Shannon @ 24:
Shannon....you've just outlined up above my life as a young man. So, please allow me to say this with sincerity and respect...
A. Afford to marry young. ---- Truly the best advice is to encourage them to refrain from marrying young. Especially given the
current conditions of the country. Patience is their strongest and most powerful ally right now and I have no doubt the love they share will hold them together until such time as they can...
B. Provide healthcare for my daughter. ---
C. Afford healthcare and life insurance for himself.--- ....the better way to achieve these things as I'm sure you absolutely know
is to....
D. Put money away for the future (huge signing bonus for a young man with no college). --- .... go to college.
Above all else investing the time and effort in any way possible to secure an education is an infinitely better option than heading off to a war zone for a government that cares absolutely nothing about him. I know you understand the truth of this. In this way....
E. Afford housing for them both. ---- .... won't be much of an issue. They can grow old safe and sound together, raise a
wonderful family and give you beautiful grand-children.
None of this will happen if he insists on believing that heading off to Afghanistan is his only option. Please believe me---I know. They are young and may not want to understand these things but that is perfectly understandable. That's the province of the young. I wish you the best.
I don't know. I'm not saying it's OK, but this isn't that unheard of. I mean one out of four where in Iraq or Afghanistan, out of 99? Isn't that like how many die in one week there? Seems a bit of a non-story to me.
Statistics lie...
In 2006, the overall suicide rate for the United States was 13.4 per 100,000 people. It was 21.1 per 100,000 people for all men aged 17 to 45. Therefore with 1,000,000 armed service personnel we should expect 134 suicides annually services wide.
So actually, you are less likely to commit suicide while in service than you are as a civilian.
Supasta...re read your comment and tell me if you see something wrong with it?
Rove tells us that Bush gives the troops everything they want and need. We are told many of these suicides are a result of 'Dear John' letters. Surely Bush and the republicans can spare a few DC hookers.
mudshark,
25 or so soldiers killed themselves while in Iraq...does that really comport with the shock of a headline that says, 'Suicides at 26 year high.' It may be true, but it is someshwat sensationalist.
Supasta @ 37:
OK..I see your point..but it should be highlighted....or "Sensationalized" to draw attention to it.Iraq was wrong..I think we agree on that.This is a result of a screwed up ideology...because it sure ain't a foriegn policy.
Foreign...gawd I hate it when I do that...DOH!!!..and to think I have spell check...double DOH!
the repubs see the GIs as robots that don't have emotions and families. They're just there so Bush 43 can look "tough" in photo ops when he wears his playskool jackets with his name in cursive
mudshark @ 29:
good advice
you guys.
jim lehrer on pbs's new hour reported tonight that in addition to the 99 suicides, there are 948 attempted suicides!!! 948!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzodrAnqWRE
the factoid comes at the very end of the report.
I'm just waiting for the 29 percenters to explain that they aren't committing suicide, they are inflicting asymmetric warfare on 'Qaeda
I'm sure the little green footballers and the michelle malkin/hot air minions are happy about that. They love dead Americans.
That fucking bitch Col./Shrink sitting next to Dingle sat on CSPAN last night and flatly said she (they) had no evidencde that the rates were reaated to the extended deployments.
Fucking liar.
Plus the definition of PTSD has several incarnations within the military, depending upon who you ask. They just set their own bar and stay above it.
Once again: Fucking,FUCKING LIARS. Teasonous fucking liars to boot.
I'm so pissed I can't even type!
God DAMN it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
finding the filth @ 42:
Good catch...
and as reminds us, there could be a lot of manipulation here based on what definitions were used to qualify the statistics.
You would think that a simple yes or no answer would suffice for these reports, but somebody always seems to put a spin on it to make it seem that its "not that bad" or its "Worse than we imagined"
The link that I posted previously contains the resources and plans proposed to mitigate the suicides.
Unfortunately, as long as this administration contiues to abuse servicemembers with multiple tours to Iraq, etc, the problem won't go away..
Why do our troops want to be boosh bashers?
I wonder how many of our casualties became so through letting the enemy get to them as part of a death wish?
Additionally recruits are supposed to be psychologically screened, I remember being asked about depression.
Has the military's desperation to fill the depleting ranks led them to not employ proper screening methods?
I wonder how many clerics will refuse to officiate at a soldier's funeral if it be known he's a suicide?
Anyone have the stomach to go over to freeperville to see what the comments on this are? Just curious.
I am sure that Malkin, the Powertools and LGFascists are very upset about this and have blogged about it endlessly.
Never ending stop loss orders, constant redeployment back into that hellhole we created... Watching a never ending string of friends and aqaintances go home in body bags or permanently crippled...And at some point ya just come to the conclusion you're just never getting out of this mess in one piece... This sort of behavior by our leaders towards our armed forces puts unimaginable strains on personal relationships such as marraige, engagements, whole families, waiting jobs and career dreams... To the soldiers, marines, airman and sailors sent there, it all ends up looking like a no win, no light at the end of the tunnel kind of box one is trapped in... Anyone with common sense and a working conscience would end up feeling that way....
This is a travesty being purpetrated by our government against American citizens who were willing to enlist to defend the nation. And are now being misused in service of a sick ideology and egomaniacal plan that is failing with these horrible results as just the tip of the iceberg of repercussions... The longer we stay in this self generated rathole, the more those numbers will rise.... The really sick part of this for me, is the fact that I just know some on the right who aren't denying it's even happening, (and I suspect there are plenty of deniers) will site it as some type of weakness, some kind of human failing... And nine out of ten of those type critics will have never put on a uniform nor got any closer to combat than a 'Saving Private Ryan' movie or a 'Sgt. Rock' comicbook... The tenth? Well that one is just most likely certifiably nuts... Possibly as a result of being in a war and losing their minds over it...
Probably an outside impartial observer (otherworldly alien) would classify our entire species as freeking over the rainbow deranged overall.... And they would probably be right... Any species that spend this much time and energy trying to kill itself off over bullshit arbitrarily constructed reasons, can't really be playing with a full deck I think.... The homosapien species... The nutsoid species... Just not fit for peaceful co-existence galactically or even with itself..... We're just not a very nice crowd, maybe at the top of some food chain, but pretty much blowing it as the so-called intelligent species on this rock....
There is only one real answer to this crap... Get out of Iraq! And that answer informs a number of steps and actions that are needed from impeachment and imprisonment of the principles who started it all, and running the gamet of making reparations internationally to making significant changes internally to undue the damages this administration has purpetrated on our nations internal government infrastructure... And really, even if we started last month, hell, last year, it will probalby take the better part of 10 to 15 years to eradicate, to fully wring out of our government and political systems the pox of neocon ideology and all the shit it has wrought.. big job.... And we haven't even got off square one................JD
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