Tag Archives: suicides

Military suicides now averaging 1 per day


By SB Anderson

New data shows 154 suicides in the first 155 days of the year, up 18% from a year ago. Suicides outpaced the number of American casualties in Afghanistan by about 50%, the Associated Press reported. 

The Pentagon on Friday confirmed the January-May numbers. 

“The numbers reflect a military burdened with wartime demands from Iraq and Afghanistan that have taken a greater toll than foreseen a decade ago,” the AP wrote. “The military also is struggling with increased sexual assaults, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and other misbehavior.”

Navy Capt. John Kirby, in confirming the numbers, told reporters: “ “If you just compare this year’s numbers … compared to 10 years ago, they’ve doubled and each one is a tragedy.”

The trend in suicides for the first part of the year has been a “reliable predictor” for the full-year trend, based on data from the past five years, according to the AP, citing Pentagon data.

Suicides among U.S. soldiers surpass civilians, study reveals


By SB Anderson

(Bloomberg) “U.S. Army suicides rose 80 percent during the five years after major troop deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, surpassing the rate for similar civilians, according to a study.

“About 40 percent of the suicides in 2008 may be associated with deployments to those countries, according to the report published today in the journal Injury Prevention. The U.S. began committing troops in 2003. In 2008, the estimate of the rate for active soldiers was higher than the rate for civilians of similar age and sex.

“The increase is “unprecedented in over 30 years of U.S. Army records,” according to a statement by the U.S. Army Public Health Command, which focuses on promoting the health of soldiers, military retirees and their families. The Army Medical organization conducted the research.”

Full research report on Injury Prevention site.

Link

Army releases January suicide data

If you’re tracking military suicides on your beat, the Army this week released January data.

  • During January, among active-duty soldiers, there were 16 potential suicides: five have been confirmed as suicide and 11 remain under investigation. For December, the Army reported 11 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, eight have been confirmed as a suicide and three remain under investigation. 
  • During January, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were six potential suicides (five Army National Guard and one Army Reserve): none have been confirmed as suicide and six remain under investigation. For December, among that same group, the Army reported five potential suicides. Since the release of that report, one case has been added for a total of six cases (four Army National Guard and two Army Reserve). Six were confirmed as suicides and none remain under investigation.

Full release