Army suicide rate could pass rate for general population this year

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/09/09...rss_topstories

Exceprts:

"The rate of suicides among-active duty soldiers is on pace to surpass both last year's numbers and the rate of suicide in the general U.S. population for the first time since the Vietnam war, according to U.S. Army officials."

"Army officials said that if the trend continues this year, it will pass the nation's suicide rate of 19.5 people per 100,000, a 2005 figure considered the most recent by the government."

"The rise can be attributed to the increased pace of combat operations, the number of deployments and financial and family troubles connected with deployments, Army officials said."

I was told the Army in the form of the VA is suppose to be working on mental health care from military personnel!!! Now I'm

ETA: Most of the personnel coming back to the states, especially those who have experience combat situations have developed PTSD with anxiety which inevitably turns into a depression... They have very little way of getting it all out because really, how should can a brain process what has been seen in a war zone?

[UGAalum94]

How does the data compare with the specific demographics of those serving? I find it interesting that the comparison is made with the general population, rather than a comparable populations of who is actually serving. I wonder if it's just incidental or if it's that the rate would be less dramatic in that comparison.

I sort of would expect suicide rates to be higher, I guess if I thought about it, because of the stress of the situation and the separation from a full range of friends and family support.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

How does the data compare with the specific demographics of those serving? I find it interesting that the comparison is made with the general population, rather than a comparable populations of who is actually serving. I wonder if it's just incidental or if it's that the rate would be less dramatic in that comparison.

I sort of would expect suicide rates to be higher, I guess if I thought about it, because of the stress of the situation and the separation from a full range of friends and family support.

not to mention constant access to the most successful method of suicide (guns) Historically, among the general population, men commit suicide more often but women attempt it more often. Men tend to use more lethal means of trying to do it and therefore, they succeed at it more.