Report: Post-War Suicides May Exceed Combat Deaths
By Steve Benen Monday May 05, 2008 7:30amBloomberg reported this week on yet another devastating and deadly aspect of the war in Iraq: the U.S. troops, burdened with post-traumatic stress, who commit suicide.
The number of suicides among veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may exceed the combat death toll because of inadequate mental health care, the U.S. government's top psychiatric researcher said.
Community mental health centers, hobbled by financial limits, haven't provided enough scientifically sound care, especially in rural areas, said Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He briefed reporters today at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting in Washington.
Insel echoed a Rand Corporation study published last month that found about 20 percent of returning U.S. soldiers have post- traumatic stress disorder or depression, and only half of them receive treatment.
The Rand study (pdf) also found that of the roughly half of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who had PTSD, major depression, or a probable traumatic brain injury and who sought treatment, "just over half received a minimally adequate treatment." (p. xxii)
Some things in life are hard. But getting the number of vets who get minimally adequate treatment over 50% is not one of them. You train the doctors. If those treatments cost more, you provide the money. You do what you need to do to make sure that when someone walks in the door looking for help, s/he finds it.
Login or Register to post comments.
I don't know which emotion this post stirs up more, anger or sadness.
The sadness is in the fact that the Bush Administration never learned anything from past wars.
Cowboy up!
Health care for veterans is one of the accoutrements of war, particularly of a war "of choice". This should have been built into the system - finances appropriated in advance as well as the certainty of a VA health care system fully equipped to handle the influx of new injuries - both physical and mental.
Since Chimpy has essentially "gutted" every aspect of this government, it's not shocking to realize that the VA is understaffed and underfunded. They share the problem with EVERY other agency of this administration.
To not provide follow-up care for our veterans is not only irresponsible of this administration; IT'S DOWNRIGHT CRIMINAL.
They're traitors to their country if they ever come out and complain about their treatment.
The government gives them two choices: treason or death.
XuYu @ 3:
Steeerike!
And the cowboy goes down swinging.
To go along with this is increased domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, along with a whole host of other issues those troops have to face.
Another obstacle is the stigma surrounding mental help found in the military. Many people in the military, especially males view going to seek mental help as a weakness and I have seen that first hand. Even a trip to see the Chaplain is suspect. The first thing you hear from the guys in your unit when you get back from seeing the Chaplain is, "Can't you hack this shit." that sort of thing. Many guys know they will hear that and will be viewed as weak so they do not seek any help. That to, is part of the problem which, as we see, leads to suicide.
Further proof that the Bush Legacy will be that he is the Worst President of all American Presidents.
Those who voted for him comprise the total of the Moron Factor in America.
Bush is Lower than Buchanan.
xoites (Bitter before Country was Cool) defends Constitution @ 7:
actually xoites I was thinking almost the same thing except it wasn't quite as nice
forgot to say good morning to bob and you
Let's face it, anyone admitting they have a mental health issue still faces embarrassment in some societies. Until we treat mental health with the same respect we treat other health problems, many people will stay in the shadows.
I am not in any way excusing the administration for their neglect of the returning soldiers, I am just saying that we need a total attitude change in our country.
I have been one of those people in the shadows and I know how it feels. Thankfully I put my own well being ahead of what society might say about me and I got help. Best thing I ever did too. I discovered that the guilt I felt I had to bear all my life was not my guilt at all and the cause had nothing to do with me. I left that pile of guilty feelings right there in the therapist office and never looked back.
"Insel echoed a Rand Corporation study published last month that found about 20 percent of returning U.S. soldiers have post- traumatic stress disorder or depression, and only half of them receive treatment."
Numbers are hard to pin down but my understanding is 1.5 million Americans have been to Iraq as a member of the armed forces. So we have 300,000 people with PSTD. 33 Veterans attempt suicide every day and 18 succeed. That is about 6500 a year, which is more than the official death count in Iraq. I say official because apparently the number is much higher than 4,071 because if you have the pleasure of dying after being evacuated from Iraq you don't count and you don't get counted.
So the billions of dollars we are throwing down this rat hole is just begining. The misery has just started and there may be no end in sight to any of it.
Good morning all. :)
xoites (Bitter before Country was Cool) defends Constitution @ 14:
And Good Morning right back atcha. :)
Just another reason not to put chickenhawks in charge of an occupation.
According to the Washington Post this morning, Laura Bush sat in for George in yesterday's press conference. She spoke of America's concern for the victims of the cyclone, and announced that the U.S. had sent $250,000 dollars in aid. $250,000 dollars, for 22,000 victims - that is about $10 per victim family. The pool of white house reporters could have come up with that amount. I wonder what the taxpayers are paying for Jenna's wedding?
McCain the Liar @ 16:
Just another reason NOT to have an occupation!
I'd be suicidal too if I participated in such an immoral, genocidal, oil theft transgression.
Good morning. Haven't had my coffee yet.
Left&Left @ 19:
I don't want to depress you, but we did.
Joe O. @ 8:
I just want to add something that compounds the stigma problem: Many victims do not seek help because of "Question 21" which asks if they have ever had any mental health care, and they feel that if they say "yes" their future in the military will be adversely affected. This probolem IS supposedly being addressed , and to the best of my knowledge, that dreaded question is being eradicated from the questionaires (We need followup to ensure that it will be eradicated and not just being articulated)
On top of this sad shit, neither bush or mccain will support the GI bill thats now in congress. To quote someone else, "GODDAMN AMERICA".
Oh yea, goodmorning everybody....
Jeez, they make it through the hell of Iraq and fight to stay alive, then they come home and do to themselves what the enemy wanted to do to them. Imagine how messed up a person would have to be to do that. How lost they would be, how depressed they must be, to feel there is no other way to cope than to give up trying.
I am curious if many of them leave notes and what those notes say.
xoites (Bitter before Country was Cool) defends Constitution @ 25:
Sorry, here is a link for that.
Wear a flag pin, put a ribbon doodad on your car that's plenty of support. George W Bush defines evil. Please, wake-up America do the right thing get our kids out of Iraq. Enough with the faux patriotism and trailer trash ethics .
Perhaps congress could stop funding the killing in Iraq and start funding the injured here at home.
That is an embarrassment, that is what that is.
pissed off patricia @ 12:
I agree. To do what you did in this current society required a lot of courage and acceptance of the problem on your part. My father was like that. After Vietnam (he is diagnosed with severe PTSD) it took him years of drinking and eventually wrapping his car around a telephone pole to finally go and at least seek some help. Today, he goes to his psychologist every month and actually seems to like it. He doesn't shy away from it as he once did.
"Some things in life are hard. But getting the number of vets who get minimally adequate treatment over 50% is not one of them. You train the doctors. If those treatments cost more, you provide the money. You do what you need to do to make sure that when someone walks in the door looking for help, s/he finds it."
it is hard when all your defense funds are being hooverd off by defense contractors.
Very sad, what Bush and Cheney has
done to our Country.
Good people in Indiana, North Carolina, all across our Country
and everyone in the world, they understand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwI-4PqEaYo
Iraq War Veterans Suicide Epidemic
A young Marine from my county was badly wounded during his second deployment to Iraq. He stopped going to his counseling sessions while staying with his aunt. While there he had a flashback believing his life was in danger. He ran from the house and wasn't found for 11 days. They found him dead lying 30 feet inside a drainage culvert. It's a tragic story and his death is just as much a casuality of the war in Iraq even though he didn't die during combat. It's another untold story of the horrible mess we have created there.
peace
The only thing more depressing than this is that I just know that the far-right media will use this as some pretext that the people who made the study and those who reported it are "supporting the terrorists", just as they have every time a fact comes along that contradicts their "war on terror" narrative.
Joel @ 36:
Oh, God i hope so. I would love to see them try that.
And Crazy McWar wants to keep this shit going on while rejecting the G.I. bill.
The right-wing media will never report this, and if they do, It will be because the 'liberals' lost faith in the war. Never mind the majoritiy feels this war is a mistake. Never mind many Americans believe our economic downfall is because of the war. My, they love to deny the truth!
Alabama Paper Reports Yet Another Iraq Vet Suicide -- With Mother Watching
By Greg Mitchell
Published: May 06, 2008 9:30 PM ET updated Tuesday
NEW YORK As the scandal of suicide attempts by Iraq veterans expands -- in the face of Veterans Administration denials -- another horrific case has emerged, once again only gaining attention because of a local newspaper. E&P has been tracking these accounts for almost five years and only recently has the problem, with an estimated 1,000 attempts a month now reported, gained wide media, and official, attention.
The latest story came Saturday in a story by Patrick McCreless in The Cullman Times of Cullman, Ala.
The headline is similar to so many others lately: "Family pushing for changes after soldier's suicide."
It tells how one Dorothy Screws "witnessed her only son, U.S. Army Pvt. Tommie Edward Jones, commit suicide right before her eyes six weeks ago in Colorado. She says the Army, which promised to be there for Screws and her family to deal with the loss, has yet to provide assistance.
"Now Screws can hardly do her job without breaking down. Just the simple act of living is a challenge.
"Only the memory of her son keeps Screws going as she fights to ensure another parent does not have to live through the same tragedy. 'I can’t save my son now ... I want to save somebody,' Screws said with tears in her eyes. 'If I can save one soldier, it will be worth it.'
"Screws plans to petition the government for as long as it takes until a law is passed requiring soldiers to undergo some type of psychological therapy after they return from intense combat."
Her son was 27 when he died.
An excerpt follows. The whole article is still posted at http://www.cullmantimes.com
Orwell rolls in his grave. Faux producer said, "If it's not seen in the news, is it news?"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1925114769515892401
Webb is still waiting for the great veteran mcain't to suport the new GI bill.
Left&Left @ 38:
and the millionaires in the press lick his shoesoles.
From what I have read about this war and what is and has been going on over there, I would be suspicious of anyone coming home who did not have some residual mental problems to some degree.
Ron @ 41:
By the way, Ron i did get to see that.
The right will say the soldiers are killing themselves because they came home to a public that did not support them or the war. They'll say the soldiers were made to feel they had fought and their buddies had died in vain.
Just another fine example of how much the neo-turds really care about the troops, Everyone who is not in the top 1% of the ruling class matters not. We are only here to serve them,no more,no less. The sooner we face this fact, the better things will be for us. because we can not wake the stupid, I think we should just go along and not cause any trouble for our wise rulers. After all they do have most of the money and we all know that "money trumps peace", in most cases. I am going to contact homeland SS today to start paving a soft road for myself and family by telling on everyone I know who might be a problem later on. If everyone on this blog would kindly send me your home address and e-mail I can get started today to line my pockets and pave my way. I sure am sorry about this but after all I have to look out for number 1, right? I mean I don't want to sound like a bad person but after all ,my family are better than all of yours and deserve better than everyone else. I mean you would not want someone in my family to be hurt or killed in some war would you? Just look at the words in my comment,look at the words....obey...obey....sleep...sleep...consume...obey...sleep. Gee I hope this does not seem like treason or a sell out... its just the ol me me me me thing........CEO
xoites (Bitter before Country was Cool) defends Constitution @ 45:
It should be required viewing by everyone.
the right wing radio hosts that are lying to the soldier's familes
never served.
they should be stripped of their FCC license.
Sounds like good news to me! These hired killers (troops) made a very bad choice to accept payment to kill and mame other
human beings so America could access oil reserves. Why does even the progressive movement not see this?
Support the troops = Support the hired killers.
although we all do to a great extent as well - the Republicans, our Congress, and George Bush specifically OWN this war - let us never forget this was the CHOICE of a scoundrel, built upon
LIES and enabled by our own legislators.. make a list and remember the names of those who
enabled this mess and let us keep them away from power of any sort from now on!!
the fact that our people in service are receiving sub-standard post-combat health care is just another slap in the face from the NeoCons, who obviously do not give a damn about anything
aside from their war crimes and war profiteering.
we - as a country - as really going to be in for it thanks to these criminals.
IMPEACH and then PROSECUTE - THAT IS THE ONLY SOLUTION.
Underground Pirate @ 50:
Shame on you and every other idiot who comes here and says this whenever we talk about the problems vets are facing.
Did you believe in Santa Claus as a child? Well guess what, i don't think you should die just because you believed a lie. Don't get all uppitty and high and mighty, you may find yourself alone in the wilderness real quick.
Follow freedom fighters I do have an idea, I don't know how much good (if any) it will do but it might help some, everyone who can, write your own truth newsletter(just the facts) and print it out via copies or print out one clean page and have it printed in a local print shop, 500,1000,5000 as many as you can afford and leave them in everyplace you can think of where some sleeping person might find and read them. We ran an underground paper in high school and had a large following and the school went crazy attempting to find and control us or shut it down. If 2 or 3 people in every town in the country did this perhaps word will get out, make sure to have footnotes to vet everything on your paper as truth, easy to check,easy to read, cold hard facts! Our little paper was called "shitless", no shit. good luck. Die on your feet don't live on your knees!......CEO
These soldiers are not killing themselves because of post traumatic stress. They are killing themselves because they realize what is going on over there is bullshit.
wow , this news makes me sick.
Underground Pirate @ 50:
Cheney is that you? Nice bait.
diamondmc @ 23:
Sounds like Wright
wasis right(correct.)Who knows what impact depleted uranium has on your mental health as well. Not only are these troops facing unbelievable horrors, they are stomping around in chemicals that are doing who knows what to the human body.
I am wondering, no one has broken down how many of these suicide/PTSD statistics are returning Female troops. Just as no one has reported how many of the wounded soldiers are female. Everyone talks about wounded/maimed and traumatized brothers, sons and husbands. Nobody talks about wounded/maimed and traumatized sisters, daughters and wives. Thoughts?
Bush plans to solve this PR problem by increasing combat deaths.
Christ! How many requested help and got none?
And how many more will?
hey..but everybody has their 'support the troops' yellow magnet on their car...right?? isnt that enough??
Here a link to a recent report in Editor and Publisher based on a local newspaper story in Alabama about a son committing suicide in front of his mother. The mother is working hard to make psychological evaluations and assistance necessary for soldiers returning home from combat.
What do you get even if you do get help?
They hand the drugs out like candy like miracles are supposed
to happen and in many cases these drugs make you want to do
more alcohol or street drugs than you would on your own and
that will make everything much worse which leads to suicide.
In a small number of cases people improve dramatically
just like the civilian population.
There are probably a dozen ways to look at this info.
We had an Iraqi vet take his life in our small town only six months after his return but it wasn't mentioned in the local paper.
Can you imagine having seen the things they have seen, having to follow the unimaginable orders they were given, fighting as occupiers in a hostile country and coming home to ambivalence from their fellow Americans?
CD @ 66:
Name two.
If there is God he will send Darh Cheney, Donald Von Rumsfeldt, their little Butt-Boy George and many others that were members of the Bush Coven to Hell. Then they will feel the pain, suffering and horror they have caused countless innocent souls.
Reporting these deaths puts our troops in danger, it enboldens our enemies and gives aid and comfort to those that hate us.
Why oh why does the media hate the troops!
"Snarky comment"...thought I'd put it out there ahead of the spin machine.
REQUIRED READING FOR EVERY AMERICAN BEFORE AGE 18
Major General Smedley Butler (1935): War Is A Racket
This is what Fascists do.
Hitler sent millions of young German men and boys to their deaths.
Fascists in this country sent tens of thousands of our young men and boys to their deaths.
Now they send thousands of them again to their deaths.
Technology has reduced the number of dead over the course of the last 70 years, but not the number of destroyed lives.
The saddest thing is that most of those soldiers thought they were serving their country, their community, their families. But they served only their Fascist masters.
Murdered, maimed, and discarded afterwards. They languish under the freeway overpasses, or drunk on a couch in a broken household, or lying in cemetaries.
For what?
But all those that do have supported and do support the war wear lapel pins but will they go oh we're on a fast career track ( remember those chicken hawks in training video??) If this news filters throught the MSM how many takers will they have for the military?? can you see the recruiter saying oh a carreer in the military is great if you don't get shot may come back so screwed up that you would be a hazard to yourself and those you love Those that have us in Iraq support the troops only so far they like the workers back home are a resourse once it has either completed it's job or is broke it's discarded.
Hmm...I guess as long as the troops continue to blindly answer the call and refuse to question their duties and assignments...well, honestly, I just don't care. I want a little yellow ribbon sticker with a big red ring around it and a line through it.
Isn't time for one of those country singing, Bush loving morons to start singing, "Proud to be an American"?
[Deleted. No personal attacks-Sitemonitor], but besides that, do not forget the Viet Nam veterans. My best friend committed suicide a few years ago because of the treatment received by [Deleted. No personal attacks-Sitemonitor]. He was a Green Beret and called every name in the book, then the U. S. Government (Veterans Affairs) abandoned them. Robert McNamara should have served time if not life in prison for the things he and the Johnson regime committed our service men to with the restrictions placed on them on where and when they could fight. The American soldier is the greatest thing this country has until they are no longer needed, then they are set on their own. It is a travesty they way they are treated.
More war related suicides with Vietnam vets than combat deaths. No one is certain just how many but some estimates are as high as 150,000. I was witness to two in 1967 while I was in Da Nang. Of course the number of Vietnamese that were killed doesn't matter to us and it's no different with the number Iraqis who will die.
Support the troops - hang the politicians.
Patriotism is now defined as silence on dissent.
The Iraq war was founded on lies. We all know it.
Everybody knows it.
4,078 US military lives lost, (so far).
650,000 Iraqi civilians are dead, two-thirds of them, women and children, (so far).
One trillion, ($1,000,000,000,000) in US treasure squandered, (so far).
Hatred for America is unprecedented, worldwide.
A president with the lowest approval ratings, ever - and with dictatorial powers exceeding those of Adolf Hitler at his zenith.
A new and improved 911 looming, that cancels the November elections.
A withering constitution, torture endorsed, the dollar circling the toilet bowl, home housing market in shambles, an economy near the edge, education and health care realities as shitty as ever.
Record US national debt, record trade deficits, the special interests and corporations firmly in the driver's seat.
But "Iron Man" the movie, broke box office records, cosmetic surgery and pet psychology are the growth industries of the future, and Britney and Paris command more press time than the actual truth behind the attacks of 911 - by a factor of 10.
But go shopping, fellow Americans. We all crave the new electronic gadget, the cool ring tone or tattoo. And don't forget to cheer at your favorite sports event this weekend.
Support the civilians. Everywhere.
The guys with guns that do all of the killing and maiming? They chose to enlist, and although it's a tough job, I have much more sympathy for the civilians who have to put up with these jarheads shooting and blowing everything up. Down with the military!
A-nother can-o-worms these pricks ruining the nation won't do dick to address...... JD
osiris @ 4:
This is a spent shell administration. The solders when they are done they are cast away and thrown under a bus. If a black water employee, an out source get into trouble and has more protection. because that a commodity, a stock option to support. Just look how the Firemen and Police were care for after twin towers.
Based on those figures and established suicide rates for similar patients who commonly develop substance abuse and other complications of post-traumatic stress disorder, ``it's quite possible that the suicides and psychiatric mortality of this war could trump the combat deaths,'' Insel said.
So in other words, based on "similar" patients we can guess that it's "quite possible" suicides are greater than combat deaths. I'm sorry, but that's a helluva headline without any actual hard data to support it.
It's all so horrific. But of course the Pentagon, VA, Bush/Cheney/Rice, et.al. are trying not to give attention to the damage fighting these wars are causing to the people fighting them. If it becomes accepted, common knowledge that so many vets are taking their own lives and experiencing other traumatic injuries, both mental and physical, at rates greater than past vets were, they might be forced to be more choosy about who to invade and why, and that would be a big inconvenience for their imperialist goals. Can't have that!
And the numbers you quoted in your post about rates of PTSD are surely an underestimation-- can't remember exactly where I read it (sorry!), but VA doctors are being encouraged to diagnose vets with just plain "stress" or "overwork" in order not to have to give out so many disability benefits and in order to sweep the degree of PTSD these wars are causing under the rug. Outrageous! Anyway, there are lots of good scholarly research articles on veteran health that have just been compiled here-- http://www.issuelab.org/closeup
Login or Register to post comments.