How sad

[mirmartinez]

Officials: Army suicides at 3-decade high
By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer Pauline Jelinek, Associated Press Writer 1 hr 17 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Suicides among U.S. soldiers rose last year to the highest level in decades, the Army announced Thursday. At least 128 soldiers killed themselves in 2008. But the final count is likely to be considerably higher because 15 more suspicious deaths are still being investigated and could also turn out to be self-inflicted, the Army said.

A new training and prevention effort will start next week. And Col. Elspeth Ritchie, a psychiatric consultant to the Army surgeon general, made a plea for more U.S. mental health professionals to sign on to work for the military.

"We are hiring and we need your help," she said.

The new suicide figure compares with 115 in 2007 and 102 in 2006 and is the highest since record keeping began in 1980. Officials calculate the deaths at a rate of roughly 20.2 per 100,000 soldiers — which is higher than the adjusted civilian rate for the first time since the Vietnam War, officials told a Pentagon news conference.

"We need to move quickly to do everything we can to reverse this disturbing ... number," Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli said.

Officials have said that troops are under tremendous and unprecedented stress because of repeated and long tours of duty due to the simultaneous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The stress has placed further burdens on an overwhelmed military health care system also trying to tend to huge numbers of troops suffering from post-traumatic stress, depression and other mental health problems as well as physical wounds and injuries of tens of thousands.

Yearly increases in suicides have been recorded since 2004, when there were 64 — only about half the number now. And they've occurred despite increased training, prevention programs and psychiatric staff.

When studying individual cases, officials said they found that the most common factors for suicides were soldiers suffering problems with their personal relationships, legal or financial issues and problems on the job.

The statistics released Thursday cover soldiers who killed themselves while they were on active duty — including National Guard and Reserve troops who had been activated.

The previous year's rate of suicides — 18.8 per 100,000 soldiers — had also been the highest on record. But the new pace of 20.2 per 100,000 was the first time the rate surpassed the civilian number, when adjusted to reflect the Army's younger and male-heavy demographics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the suicide rate for U.S. society overall was about 11 per 100,000 in 2004, the latest year for which the agency has figures. But the Army says the civilian rate is more like 19.5 per 100,000 when adjusted.

The new estimated rate of 20.2 is more than double the 9.8 in 2002 — the first full year after the start of the war in Afghanistan

The new Army statistics follow a report earlier this month showing that the Marine Corps recorded more suicides last year than any year since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

That report said 41 Marines were possible or confirmed suicides in 2008, or 16.8 per 100,000 troops. The Marine rate remained unchanged from the previous year.

Marine and Army units have borne most of duty in the two wars, which have required more use of ground forces to fight the insurgencies.

The numbers kept by the service branches don't show the whole picture of war-related suicides because they don't include deaths after people have left the military. The Department of Veterans Affairs tracks those numbers and says there were 144 suicides among the nearly 500,000 service members who left the military from 2002-2005 after fighting in at least one of the two ongoing wars.

The true incidence of suicide among military veterans is not known, according to a report last year by the Congressional Research Service. Based on numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the VA estimates that 18 veterans a day — or 6,500 a year — take their lives, but that number includes vets from all previous wars.

"The suicide numbers released today come as no surprise to the veterans' community who has experienced the psychological toll of war," said Paul Rieckhoff, director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "But we cannot let current trend lines continue. These are preventable deaths for which the Department of Defense and the VA can and must take bold action."

sad

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Sobering statistics.
Mental health services obviously need to be increased. The military personnel are suffering in silence.

 

[JARNJ3]

Very sad.

I heard this on the radio this morning.

They said the budgets did not allow for adequate mental health......

And they need it now more than ever, with so many service people staying in (something about not enough jobs in the private sector....)

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

Hearing stories like these absolutely kill me. Having a father who was veteran green beret in Vietnam struggling with PTSD for all of my life I've been personally affected by this. He's had to practically beg the VA to get him the help he needs. I fear for him every day. Our troops deserve better.

 

[ToddyLu]

Just took care of one at our hospital who luckily was found by a family member and saved. Really sweet, polite young man with too many issues from Iraq.

 

[Mr Man]

It' Obama's fault!!!!




AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHRGGHHHHH!!!!



(er, sorry, just practicing)

 

[Cool-Beans]

I have a good friend who works for the VA. There is TONS of stuff mental-health wise. All the nurses, regardless of who they work with, are given tons of suicide awareness/prevention stuff. They get booklets and seminars and all kind of stuff on it.

And there is a TON of money spent on this for therapists and psychiatric services, etc. There is help available to any vet who wants it.

I'm not saying that suicide isn't sad - it is - but the idea that there is no help available or that mental health is overlooked...well, it simply isn't true.

If you know someone who is suffering, PUHLEEZE get them to the VA. The help is there!

 

[bsc22]

It' Obama's fault!!!!




AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHRGGHHHHH!!!!



(er, sorry, just practicing)

As am I:

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I have a good friend who works for the VA. There is TONS of stuff mental-health wise. All the nurses, regardless of who they work with, are given tons of suicide awareness/prevention stuff. They get booklets and seminars and all kind of stuff on it.

And there is a TON of money spent on this for therapists and psychiatric services, etc. There is help available to any vet who wants it.

I'm not saying that suicide isn't sad - it is - but the idea that there is no help available or that mental health is overlooked...well, it simply isn't true.

If you know someone who is suffering, PUHLEEZE get them to the VA. The help is there!

Yes, you're right there is help. But this article makes it painfully obvious that it is not enough. And with the closing of VAs, sometimes it's impossible to get veterans in smaller communities to the hospitals for the help. We are over 65 miles from the closest one.

 

[Mr Man]

As am I:

 

[Piecey]

DH is an OIF/OEF Marine Corps. Veteran... and he struggles with depression and all of this. Not to sound conceited, but there are days I don't doubt that if I weren't in his life, he wouldn't still be around.

Three weeks ago, after a 2 year struggle, the VA diagnosed him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is finally, FINALLY treating him for it.

The help he has since received has already done wonders. He's happier, more lighthearted, etc.

I hope that all the other Vets out there get the help that they need and the military/VA takes this statistic seriously!

(We spent months with them telling him he was BiPolar before the PTSD diagnosis )



ETA:

Yes, you're right there is help. But this article makes it painfully obvious that it is not enough. And with the closing of VAs, sometimes it's impossible to get veterans in smaller communities to the hospitals for the help. We are over 65 miles from the closest one.

PLEASE!.... The VA, if you are 50 miles (I think) away from the closest care center.. will PAY for you/whomever you are speaking of to see a civilian doctor. There is some paperwork out there I can find if you need the information.. We were in the process of doing it (As we're about an hour away, too) whenver the PTSD diagnosis came through which automatically qualified DH for a PTSD Civilian Specialist.

I have a good friend who works for the VA. There is TONS of stuff mental-health wise. All the nurses, regardless of who they work with, are given tons of suicide awareness/prevention stuff. They get booklets and seminars and all kind of stuff on it.

And there is a TON of money spent on this for therapists and psychiatric services, etc. There is help available to any vet who wants it.

I'm not saying that suicide isn't sad - it is - but the idea that there is no help available or that mental health is overlooked...well, it simply isn't true.

If you know someone who is suffering, PUHLEEZE get them to the VA. The help is there!

But, PTSD is able to be claimed as a disability and Veteran's STRUGGLE to get the proper diagnosis because of it.

I don't disagree that the help is there, but it's not properly given.

My husband is NOT bipolar. My husband did NOT need Lithium (which is still, stupidly, mailed to us for his *Bipolar* disease)

It took two years for the VA to diagnose and treat him for what they knew all along was wrong with him.
He did three tours in the middle east in 4 years. He got out of boot camp 9-29-01.
His records show re-adjustment disorder, served on a base that took hostile mortar fire in a middle-eastern country, etc, etc, etc... Yet they still said he didn't suffer from PTSD.

Sure. And I'm not pregnant.

 

[Uncle Remus]

It' Obama's fault!!!!




AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHRGGHHHHH!!!!



(er, sorry, just practicing)

As am I:

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

DH is an OIF/OEF Marine Corps. Veteran... and he struggles with depression and all of this. Not to sound conceited, but there are days I don't doubt that if I weren't in his life, he wouldn't still be around.

Three weeks ago, after a 2 year struggle, the VA diagnosed him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is finally, FINALLY treating him for it.

The help he has since received has already done wonders. He's happier, more lighthearted, etc.

I hope that all the other Vets out there get the help that they need and the military/VA takes this statistic seriously!

(We spent months with them telling him he was BiPolar before the PTSD diagnosis )



ETA:


PLEASE!.... The VA, if you are 50 miles (I think) away from the closest care center.. will PAY for you/whomever you are speaking of to see a civilian doctor. There is some paperwork out there I can find if you need the information.. We were in the process of doing it (As we're about an hour away, too) whenver the PTSD diagnosis came through which automatically qualified DH for a PTSD Civilian Specialist.

Oh, he's under care of the VA...I'm just speaking of others that could be in that situation. PTSD is awful. My dad recently did a 6 week in patient stint. Luckily, he got the help before it was too late. Your husband is so lucky to have you in his life! My mother passed away about 8 years ago. She was always the one that was able to tell when Dad was going to have one of his episodes and convince him to get help. This time, it was nearly too late before he got the help.

 

[Piecey]

Oh, he's under care of the VA...I'm just speaking of others that could be in that situation. PTSD is awful. My dad recently did a 6 week in patient stint. Luckily, he got the help before it was too late. Your husband is so lucky to have you in his life! My mother passed away about 8 years ago. She was always the one that was able to tell when Dad was going to have one of his episodes and convince him to get help. This time, it was nearly too late before he got the help.

Yes, it is. DH's father recently passed away and it hit DH hard. His PTSD episodes increased x10. The VA (at the counseling sessions I've been to) said the reason I can't calm him down is because I'm not the problem, etc, I can't relate to the problem. He doesn't even see me when they hit him. They're terrifying. Every single time, my heart breaks for him. Through the help the VA has given us/me/him, we've gone from regular episodes (some much worse than others) to only one in the last month and it was MILD in comparison.
I had to press him to go and get help. When I got pregnant, I didn't give him a choice. The difference is truly amazing and heartening.
Luckily, though, there is an Air Force Vet 2 blocks away that knows the deal with everything and I call him when I see an episode coming. He protects DH from himself/me when we were having truly bad episodes (where DH didn't even know where he was, etc.)

I'm so glad your dad got the help he needed and it seems like the VA is taking all of this more seriously.

 

[bsc22]

Oh come on Remus, take a silly joke....

 

[S. C.]

Oh come on Remus, take a silly joke....

It wasn't the place for a silly joke.

 

[bsc22]

Oh snap, I just now realized this about Suicide rates in the Military

<_<
>_>

My bad for my joking nature, carry on

 

[redrosesix]

Hearing stories like these absolutely kill me. Having a father who was veteran green beret in Vietnam struggling with PTSD for all of my life I've been personally affected by this. He's had to practically beg the VA to get him the help he needs. I fear for him every day. Our troops deserve better.

That's rough for both of you.

 

[redrosesix]

DH is an OIF/OEF Marine Corps. Veteran... and he struggles with depression and all of this. Not to sound conceited, but there are days I don't doubt that if I weren't in his life, he wouldn't still be around.

No, that doesn't sound conceited to me. Unfortunately, it sounds like the truth. Sometimes husbands need us a lot.

You go girl!
(just thought maybe you didn't get cheered enough -- you deserve it, mama)

 

[ginna74]

"PLEASE!.... The VA, if you are 50 miles (I think) away from the closest care center.. will PAY for you/whomever you are speaking of to see a civilian doctor. There is some paperwork out there I can find if you need the information.. We were in the process of doing it (As we're about an hour away, too) whenver the PTSD diagnosis came through which automatically qualified DH for a PTSD Civilian Specialist.
"

When I origanaly moved back I was able to see my doc but she was an hour away, I was not able to get any closser, so I got travel pay when I saw her. I then moved clossed as in like 10 minutes to the clinic oh about 6 years later. THEN, they moved me to the hospital which is about 2 and a half hours away for my main care, but not my phsyc, that is still here. The reason for that is the clinic does not do female care. It didn't do it before but sense I am closer now... I really dunno why they moved me but am guessing that is why???lol OK I am seeing a doctor here in the clinic and sense they are downsizing I can't see her that much so she is sending me out in town LOL. SO I see her and a lady in town, and I go to the hospital that is 2 and a half hours away. I hope that made sense.