Army Suicides Reach 21

[Flagg]

Army Suicides Reach 21
United Press International
February 14, 2004


WASHINGTON - A week before it expects to release a report on mental health issues affecting troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Army has determined that at least 21 soldiers have committed suicide in Iraq or Kuwait.

Army spokeswoman Martha Rudd said the suicides do not include an undisclosed number of soldiers who killed themselves after leaving Iraq or Kuwait. And several "non-hostile" deaths there are still being investigated.

The new figure suggests the suicide rate has risen substantially since mid-January, when 18 Army suicides had been confirmed. At that point, a Pentagon official put the Army suicide rate at 13.5 per 100,000 -- calling that "a very small increase" over a past average of 10 to 11 suicides per 100,000 soldiers.

Asked how the three additional confirmed suicides affect the rate, Rudd said the Army wouldn't comment before the mental health report is released. But assuming a comparable pool of soldiers, United Press International calculated the new rate as 15.8 suicides per 100,000 soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Some veterans groups said they are worried

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_suicide_021404,00.html

[krkaufman]

1. Sad.

Feel horrible for those suffering over there.

Anybody have any more information on that story from the other day commenting on classification of military deaths? It mentioned that the current death toll only reports those who've perished on the field of battle, and ignores soldiers who expired from their wounds later (at hospital or in the states).

[OneBlueSky]

2. why does my gut tell me that number is w-a-a-a-a-y low? . . .

if they're admitting to 21, you can bet the farm that the real number is considerably higher . . . also wonder how many failed attempts there have been . . .