In 2007, suicides among active-duty soldiers reached their highest point since the Army began keeping records in 1980. 121 soldiers committed suicide in 2007, a 20 percent increase over 2006. Attempted suicides or self-inflicted injuries rose sixfold since the Iraq war began: there were 350 cases in 2002 compared to 2,100 in 2007. Historically, suicide rates within the military decreases during wartime; the current trend is the opposite of that. In 2001 the suicide rate was 9. 8 per 100,000 active-duty soldiers–in 2006 the rate jumped to 17. 5 per 100,000. In 2007 twice as many soldiers committed suicide in the U. S. as they did in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Post provides this sober passage about a young Army reservist currently hospitalized after her suicide attempt:
Taking a look at the issue of veterans suicides it’s somewhat alarming to read this USA Today article from 2003. The language, the sense of urgency, the utter surprise in statistical findings can make one wonder if five years from now we’ll still be reading the same type of articles–waiting for things to get better. The lead paragraph from the article could easily be substituted for a story about the current findings:
Everyone knows it’s an issue. But, what can actually be done? Jon Soltz of VoteVets.org has this to say via the Huffington Post:
The Washington Post itself provides a summary of online reader comments for the article, and highlights particular entries. Here’s an excerpt:
…Even without dwell time, and a much deserved rest for our forces, we have got to be more diligent about mandatory and exhaustive screening of returning troops, and providing adequate care and monitoring.
With almost regular headline-making reports of the suicide issues it can sometimes get confusing where things stand. Here are some key stories to revisit from 2007:
