[NYAPRS Enews] LAT: Military Suicides Spike to Nearly 1 Per Day

[Harvey Rosenthal]

Military Suicides Spike -- Nearly 1 Per Day, Pentagon Reports

*         By David Zucchino Los Angeles Times  June 8, 2012

Suicides among U.S. military members have spiked this year, with an
average of one suicide a day - the highest rate so far during a decade
of war in Iraq and Afghanistan
<http://www.latimes.com/topic/intl/afghanistan-PLGEO00000021.topic> .

According to new Pentagon
<http://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/the-pentagon-
PLCUL00216.topic>  figures, 154 military service members committed
suicide during the first 155 days of this year. During the same period,
ending June 3, 136 U.S. troops died in combat in Afghanistan, according
to icasualties.org, a website that tracks combat casualties.

The upsurge in suicides comes after the military suicide rate leveled
off in 2010 and 2011.  Although most Army suicides are of soldiers who
have not deployed to war zones, Army studies have found that multiple
combat tours are a high risk factor for suicide. Other factors include
post-traumatic stress disorder
<http://www.latimes.com/topic/health/behavioral-conditions/post-traumati
c-stress-disorder--HEBEC000022.topic> , or PTSD, traumatic brain
injuries, marriage and financial stress, and drug and alcohol abuse
<http://www.latimes.com/topic/health/behavioral-conditions/substance-abu
se-HEBEC000020.topic> .

Military suicide rates soared in 2009 before tapering off as the
military began instituting programs encouraging service members to seek
help for mental health issues, including suicide, and expanding
treatment options.

The 154 suicides through June 3 this year was 24 more than during the
same period last year - an 18% increase - according to an Associated
Press analysis of Pentagon figures.  The military had projected 136
suicides for the 2012 period based on rates in previous years, the AP
reported.

This year's totals are 25% higher than during the same period in 2010,
and 16% higher than the same period in 2009 - the worst year so far for
military suicides.

The Pentagon has said it is attempting to eliminate the stigma within
the military that any admission of psychological or physical problems is
a sign of weakness.

"By achieving a cultural change that encourages help-seeking behaviors,
we will be postured to more effectively combat suicide within our
ranks,'' Brig. Gen. Barrye L. Price, head of the Army
<http://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/u.s.-army-ORG
OV0000126141142.topic> 's human resources policy, said when suicide
statistics were released last month.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-military-suicides-
20120608,0,6437532.story

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