Military Suicides: The "Terrifying" Truth.

The Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force are in big trouble. Their soldiers are killing themselves off in unprecedented numbers. Luckily the politicians and media are on the case to save us from this epidemic. I don;t feel any better, do you?

The 115 confirmed deaths among active duty soldiers and National Guard and Reserve troops that had been activated was a lower number than previously feared. Preliminary figures released in January showed as many as 121 troops might have killed themselves, but a number of the deaths were still being investigated then and have since been attributed to other causes, the officials said.

Suicides have been rising during the five-year-old war in Iraq and nearly seven years of war in Afghanistan.

The 115 deaths in 2007 and 102 in 2006 followed 85 in 2005 and 67 in 2004. The only Army records immediately available go back to 1990, and show no year with a higher number of suicides than 2007. The figure in 1990 was 102.


PS: 1990 and 2006 both had the same number at 102, is this really a problem?

Links used for data:

http://www.211bigbend.org/hotlines/suicide/factsaboutsuicideintheUSA.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_United_States

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Suicide
• rate
• 100000
• media
• military
• spin
• real
• funny

[BongaFish]

You must have been reading an outdated article.

115 suicides only in one year, and I think you're talking about '07. There were 128 last year and 324 just this year.

As for the recorded suicide *attempts*, that number is in the thousands-range.

And, as of last year (2008), the suicide rate has been substantially ABOVE the civilian suicide rate. Not below.

[TheVigilante2000]

Well, this year is almost over, and that puts the number in 09 at 3 times the number in 07, which was 1/3 the national average then, so we are basically at the national average now. It seems to have spiked in 09 for some reason, but still not at emergency levels.

[cammmodotorg]

Just think about military recruiting and marketing focused on young, impressionable kids. Look at shiny assets like the Army Experience Center, NHRA Army drag racing, Army NASCAR, the Virtual Army Experience, Army rodeo, etc. Is it not now apparent more than ever before that these things have NOTHING to do with joining the Army? And would those millions of dollars be better spent providing services and care for those who are already enlisted and struggling to keep their lives together?

[TheVigilante2000]

That like saying advertising has nothing to do with sales. Of course all that advertising helps the army recruit.

Could more money be spent on suicide preventions? Sure, but there comes a point that you are spending a lot of money for no real improvement.

I'm just saying that until the rates are OVER the national average, I'm not sure there is a problem.

[SCUBONZIES]

I Laughed to get out of that scary stuff control's your brain Party Time Troop's good VS Evil Break GO!

[capufool]

I live in seattle.... didnt hear about that one

[cammmodotorg]

How about the young girl found dead in the Seattle barracks today? The Army needs your help as a citizen to make it correct itself. Because it is a train out of control. The majority of the troops aren't even on our land yet. And we aren't ready for them to come home, either. Seen any good news on Army living quarters lately other than kids sending cards to Walter Reed? Or has it all been about murder on base and murder for hire plots and asbestos at Ft. Bragg and clogged plumbing?

[cammmodotorg]

any explanation for January Army suicides?