Soldier Suicides

hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
This is exactly why I want the war to end. I had a good friend in my platoon that did this and several girls I went to boot camp with attempted to do it. These people need to come home but the government just doesn't seem to care about it at all.
This a new report that I got off of yahoo. It is on there now if anyone wants to look. So sad.
WASHINGTON - Soldier suicides this year could surpass the record rate of last year, Army officials said Thursday, urging military leaders at all levels to redouble prevention efforts for a force strained by two wars.
So far this year, there are 62 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers and Guard and Reserve troops called to active duty, officials said. Another 31 deaths appear to be suicides but are still being investigated.
If all are confirmed, that means that the number for 2008 could eclipse the 115 of last year — and the rate per 100,000 could surpass that of the civilian population, Col. Eddie Stephens, deputy director of human resources policy, said at a Pentagon press conference.
"Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both soldiers and their families," Army Secretary Pete Geren said.
"The Army is committed to ensuring that all soldiers and their families receive the behavioral health care they need," he said in a statement distributed at the press conference.
To try to stem the continuing high number of suicides, the Army continues to increase the number of staff psychiatrists and other mental health staff as well as chaplains, is issuing a new interactive video for troops and will be adding a new program to basic training starting in January, said Brig. Gen. Rhonda L. Cornum, an assistant Army surgeon general.
"There are no simple problems and there are no simple solutions," Cornum said. "There is no program that has been shown to be truly effective at preventing suicides ... Success will be the sum of a number of smaller steps."
 
reefreak29

reefreak29

Active Member
1,426,713 personnel are currently on active duty and a further 1,259,000 in the seven reserve components. the average suicide rate is 12 per every 100000. so it seams to be pretty low, whats the problem
 
jellyman1213

jellyman1213

Member
Originally Posted by reefreak29
http:///forum/post/2746536
1,426,713 personnel are currently on active duty and a further 1,259,000 in the seven reserve components. the average suicide rate is 12 per every 100000. so it seams to be pretty low, whats the problem
I would have to agree. They signed up knowing they could be called upon. Unfortunately the pressure and stress for those few may be too much. War sucks but in this crazy world to keep the freedoms we have it is a necessity.
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
I don't know. I think it is a problem anytime someone is so stressed out they resort to killing themselves. I guess you would have to have been there to understand. I watched Marines who had never seen their children die. I watched a sailor try to kill himself when he found out his 10 year old child had died in a car accident and he hadn't been there with him. To say that you know what you sign up for is ridiculous. No one tells you that you might be forced to be away from you family for years at a time. And when I say forced, I am not being facetious. Let's see, when I was married my husband went to Iraq for 4 months. He worked in the postal department. He was in charge of opening all the mail from the people that had been killed. He luckily was only there for 4 months because he got hurt. During that time he was shot at daily in the drives between Iraq and Kuwait delivering the mail. He was constantly in fear for his life. He missed his son's first smile and laugh and completely changed as an individual. He was suicidal when he came back and had to be treated at the VA for depression which continues to this day. He is one of the lighter stories. I could give you many more. There are troops that have been there for 2+ years away from their children. They continue to have to hire more and more people to deal with the suicides and low troop morale and cost us even more money. But, no big deal I guess.
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
Originally Posted by reefreak29
http:///forum/post/2746536
1,426,713 personnel are currently on active duty and a further 1,259,000 in the seven reserve components. the average suicide rate is 12 per every 100000. so it seams to be pretty low, whats the problem
I can't beleive you said that!
12 is the problem!
 
reefreak29

reefreak29

Active Member
i understand, life in general is very hard theres people that dont know when they will see there children get there next meal, theres men that get hurt on the job and can no longer support there family like they once could, parents deal with teens that get killed in car wrecks. the list goes on and on its a very unfair world we live in
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
Originally Posted by reefreak29
http:///forum/post/2746573
i understand, life in general is very hard theres people that dont know when they will see there children get there next meal, theres men that get hurt on the job and can no longer support there family like they once could, parents deal with teens that get killed in car wrecks. the list goes on and on its a very unfair world we live in
The point is that this is preventable. That is the point to what I was saying. These people died dealing with something that was unnecessary, especially as far in as 7 years after the 9/11 attacks.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
My son recently got back from Iraq and I couldn't believe the amount of "classes" he has gone through to make sure he is OK so this government doesn't care garbage is just a load of.......
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
Yes they have to put them through a lot of classes because so many are coming back with mental issues such as depression and suicidal thoughts. The government doesn't care and I will tell you why that is that I say that. They care about the war on terrorism, yes and making sure the country is safe. I am not arguing over this. They don't care about the individual families and serviceman. The classes to make sure they okay? Well, if a soldier tries to commit suicide they can never carry a firearm again. Which makes it hard to go to war. In fact, they are discharged. And not honorably, I might add. They lose their GI bill college money, va benefits, and their pay. There is no short term disability or insurance for their family after that. Heck, they barely take care of the wounded ones as it is. This is why I say that the government doesn't care. If they did they would put something in place to prevent this, like shorter deployments, more leave time away from war and with their families. If they cared, there wouldn't be so many suicides period.
 
reefreak29

reefreak29

Active Member
Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2746577
The point is that this is preventable. That is the point to what I was saying. These people died dealing with something that was unnecessary, especially as far in as 7 years after the 9/11 attacks.
listen i scan sympathize with this its very difficult when someone takes his own life, its very hard for the family and friends that have been left behind . But , we are in a war one that i believe we should be in, statistically those same amount of people that commit suicide in iraq would do so if the war wasnt going on
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
Did you not read the article saying that it was going to surpass the civilian population? That means that the problem is getting worse. I am assuming most people here have seen full metal jacket. It is a little old fashioned and obviously a movie. However, Marines and soldiers really do go crazy during war and sometimes during bootcamp. There have been drill instructors killed by recruits and many recruits have taken their own lives. In war it doesn't get any easier. There is no disclaimer when you sign up that says that you could experience mental issues if you sign up for this or that you might deal with problems for the rest of your life. Trust me when I say that this is a big deal. Sorry if it doesn't hit home for you personally though.
 
jellyman1213

jellyman1213

Member
Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2746563
To say that you know what you sign up for is ridiculous. No one tells you that you might be forced to be away from you family for years at a time. And when I say forced, I am not being facetious. .
What exactly would you think when you join the Army?? I'll get all the training, schooling, and money but when the times comes to serve I should also get a choice. That's not how it works. You are not forced because you already agreed to go whereever and whenever when you signed on the dotted line.
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
No. Maybe I am not making my points clear, Yes you do sign up for the military and you should expect to serve if you are called. But how long do you think you should be away? 6 months, 2 years, more? And then comes along stop/loss. My contract ends in a month (for example) but they can't hold on to troops....guess what? You get to stay even if you have completed the contract for which you signed up for. So you completed your end of the bargain. But the military says differently. I personally knew a Master Sergeant who was up for retirement after 20 years of service. Stop Loss got put into effect. He got to stay in Iraq. He was killed. Sound fair to you? They do not care how many people die in this war. The money keeps rolling in to support the war. They will keep fighting it, no matter how long we have overstayed our welcome. I am getting off subject though. My point is that they could put plans into place that would severely cut the number of suicides within the military. It wouldn't even be difficult. More rotation of troops back to the US for down time would do it. Shorter duration of deployments.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/2746598
Did you not read the article saying that it was going to surpass the civilian population? That means that the problem is getting worse. I am assuming most people here have seen full metal jacket. It is a little old fashioned and obviously a movie. However, Marines and soldiers really do go crazy during war and sometimes during bootcamp. There have been drill instructors killed by recruits and many recruits have taken their own lives. In war it doesn't get any easier. There is no disclaimer when you sign up that says that you could experience mental issues if you sign up for this or that you might deal with problems for the rest of your life. Trust me when I say that this is a big deal. Sorry if it doesn't hit home for you personally though.
So your hair is on fire because the military rate might surpass the civilian rate? Sounds like code pink "logic" I mean it's a problem but as has been said, the military exists to engage in military actions, like war. Do we walk away from what looks to be a probable success because the suicide rate has gone up or, as is happening try to do an even better job at identifying those in crisis and help them?
 
hlcroghan

hlcroghan

Active Member
Didn't I just say they could do a lot more to prevent them? Having a priest come talk to you when you aren't even Catholic to work you through your depression doesn't work so well. But guess what? That is the only counselor available to you on this particular military installation. Or they can give you lots of drugs which help sometimes. But once again you can't carry a firearm if you try to commit suicide. They can do shorter deployments, offer more leave time. I am upset because those things do not get put into place. They just leave those people out there for years on end and expect them to be fine. That is why I am upset.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top