PeaceJam | U.S. Military Suicides In June Reach "Record Number" For A Single Month

U.S. Military Suicides In June Reach "Record Number" For A Single Month

Posted 7/16/2010 at 12:01 PM by Bradlee A in Community Blog
Affiliate: PeaceJam HQ

A woman looks at the names of thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.

The U.S. Military just released a report that suicides among active duty and reserved soldiers for the month of June was at a record high. Suicides for the first half of this year are up 12% from 2009. Thirty-two soldiers are believed to have taken their life in June, 21 were on active duty.

Jim Miklaszewski, Chief Pentagon correspondent, MSNBC wrote:
The June report came as the Army also released a 20-minute training video on suicide prevention titled, "Shoulder to Shoulder — I will never quit on life."

Army officials have been grappling in recent years with how to prevent suicides among soldiers dealing with the stress of multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, suicide claimed the lives of 163 soldiers on active duty and 82 Guard and Reserve soldiers not on active duty.

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Jasmin M wrote:
This makes me so sad. A friend of mine suffered her cousin committing suicide after returning from a tour in Afghanistan. And I hear so many stories like this. I really wonder at statements like, "despite an aggressive program of counseling, training and education aimed at suicide prevention." There's a lack of human compassion in a statement like that, just a regard to not have men, who have become pawns and war tools, lost. As someone who does not agree with war, I feel biased, but from observing my brother in the Marines, and his own regret at having joined, it's hard for me to believe any real compassion can exist in that kind of environment. It's really not shocking that suicides rates of increased. Everything that has been happening in the Middle East just seems so against human nature to me. And these are young, impressionable men. Heh, maybe I relate too many to my little brother, who will always be like a baby to me. But I just feel bad for everyone involved.
posted 7/16/2010 at 1:49 PM

Bradlee A wrote:

This is devastating.

As someone who does not agree with war, I feel biased, but from observing my brother in the Marines, and his own regret at having joined, it's hard for me to believe any real compassion can exist in that kind of environment.

I have a friend with Gulf War Syndrome and has been the go-to woman for Veterans rights especially in the medical field. She was a Colonel who was forced into retirement because of her symptoms. Anyway, she's been up late many a night with veterans who were on the brink of suicide, mostly because of the symptoms of injuries (physical and menta) that he/she incurred during battle. It is her drive, her compassion for those that are suffering which leads her to continue to go to Congress and testify on behalf of veterans time and time again, so that they receive the care they need. She's relayed to me many times over how the U.S. Government does a strikingly poor job of helping soldiers who return from war. So I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that this "program" not only lacks in compassion but it's just to make them look like they're doing something about this increasing problem.

posted 7/16/2010 at 4:42 PM