US Army suicide rate last year highest since 1999

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21386003.htm

US Army suicide rate last year highest since 1999


WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - The number of soldiers who took their own lives while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan rose in 2005 over the previous year, as the U.S. Army experienced its highest suicide rate since 1999, officials said on Friday.

The Army released statistics showing that 12.9 per 100,000 U.S. soldiers committed suicide in 2005, up from 11.0 per 100,000 in 2004. The 2005 suicide rate was the highest for the Army since 13.1 per 100,000 in 1999.

The Army is the largest service in the U.S. military and provides most of the troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Pentagon also released data showing the suicide rate in 2005 dropped from the previous year in both the Marine Corps and the Navy. Air Force data was unavailable.

[MadMaddie]

1. And that's only counting suicides....that's not including all

of the many deaths from soldiers coming back....driving excessive speeds in sports cars and motorcyles and getting killed. These numbers are alarming also....We are looking at a new group of homeless soldiers with mental problems...

[Wheres The Beef]

2. What was going on in '99?

An earlier post said it was the highest since 1993. At least that was after GW1.

[JVS]

4. That's what I wondered when I saw this!

[bananas]

3. Army Suicides Hit Highest Level Since '93

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x991431

[sutz12]

5. I wonder how many self-inflicted wounds?

That was the trick in 'Nam. Shoot yourself in the foot cleaning your weapon. Sure, you walk with a limp the rest of your life, but at least you have a 'rest of your life.'

edited for spelling

[Media_Lies_Daily]

6. If they managed to commit suicide, the wounds were....

...probably self-inflicted. :-)

Sorry...couldn't resist a little humor for such a grim subject.

What have we done?

[Roon]

7. Army suicides hit highest level since 1993

WASHINGTON - The number of U.S. Army soldiers who took their own lives increased last year to the highest total since 1993, despite a growing effort by the Army to detect and prevent suicides.

In 2005, a total of 83 soldiers committed suicide, compared with 67 in 2004, and 60 in 2003 — the year U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq. Four other deaths in 2005 are being investigated as possible suicides but have not yet been confirmed. The totals include active duty Army soldiers and deployed National Guard and Reserve troops.

“Although we are not alarmed by the slight increase, we do take suicide prevention very seriously,” said Army spokesman
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12428185/

[MrsSuperbad]

8. although they are not alarmed??

What? umm I kinda think they should be.

[WildEyedLiberal]

9. This tally doesn't even MENTION discharged soldiers home from Iraq

How fucking sad. But, since the Republicans have cut funding for VA hosptials and health care, these soldiers can't get the mental help they need to deal with PTSD and reintegrate into society.

Republicans support the troops my ASS.

[lovuian]

10. Despair has hit them!!! Morale is so low!!!

I feel for our children!!!

[true_notes]

11. Just had a suicide here on Base 2 weeks ago....

And it's Naval Shore Duty...as easy as it gets. This guy was a second class, too so he was used to the normal rigor of military life. It (the Military) is a candy coated Hell Hole....

[mconvente]

12. This is so disheartening...

My cousin is in Iraq now (he's a Marine) and I'm pretty sure he's doing as well as he can, but it's still very saddening to hear about soldiers committing suicide over a war that shouldn't be...

:cry: