Army Suicide Prevention

The military, especially the Army, has taken a hit lately on the increase in suicides. While being attributed to the war, to assume such would be a naive and ignorant statement. The fact is that suicides in the military are as varied in reason as there are troops who commit them. The fact is that more than half of suicide victims have never deployed.

The Army is a stressful profession. By lowering our standards of enlistment, we have allowed people into the military that just shouldn't be here. By lowering our standards at basic training, civilians are not being challenged or stressed enough to be able to handle the rigors of Soldier life or combat. Our motherly approach to training is a contributor.

We also can't forget about the economy. When the economy goes bad, our Soldiers suffer. While we probably have no worries when it comes to losing our job, we still feel the effects of higher prices perhaps more than most people. The divorce also plays a part.

The truth is that there are many factors to why suicides in the Army are rising, but it's important to note that they are rising in the civilian sector as well. Unlike the civilian sector, Soldiers have access to programs and help the civilian sector can only HOPE to enjoy. Soldiers receive numerous briefings on suicide prevention and how to recognize the signs in our fellow troops.

The Army has produced this video as an additional aid to deal with this problem. I would urge anyone considering suicide to get help. Reconsider. Life is never so bad that you have to resort to taking your life. As a matter of fact, your death will only makes things worse for others. Talk to someone and let them help you work through your problems. Your pain in temporary. This difficult period in your life will go away. You do not have to go through it alone!

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• army
• suicide
• military
• help

[CosmicDestroyer99]

My friend's husband shot himself on the 9th of April..He was an Iraq veteran..He left behind 4 kids and one on the way and a lovely wife..Suicide in the military is a serious problem

[chcknhawk]

Suicides EVERYWHERE are a problem. We just actually try to prevent them in the military.

[aberod11]

How can we reduce our military's suicide rate? Hmm..... ...

STOP THE WAR!

[chcknhawk]

@aberod11 Yeah, that'll do it! Stop the war and we won't ever have another suicide!! Oh wait, but only 33% of military suicides are from troops who have deployed....guess that screws your preposterous and ignorant argument!

[Abrahamlol]

if you ask me,

no one with an education should be on the military's front lines.

we should gather all of our convicts and send them all out to war.

if they do a good job, we reward by reducing sentence.

if they die, its like killing 2 birds with one stone.

[chcknhawk]

As a Soldier, I disagree. The reason we have such a great military is because of our compassion, our skill, and our honor. Convicts have none of that. They would not care who they killed. You think we have "collateral damage" problems now?! It would pale in comparison.

[battybratty1]

dangolingo is a classic example of the ignorance out there. Just another one who has no CLUE what they are talking about.  Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, isn't it?I wish he/she/it would educate themselves before they open their mouths and psew..

[AfghanOldBlue]

I most thoroughly agree. None of the lives that I've taken have been innocent, and I feel quite fine. Except the animals. They were, by all accounts, quite innocent. The best part is that now that you have now joined the ranks of those who have forfeited any right at all to an opposable thumb, and I'd like to add you to my list of animals.

Please email me your name and address and save me the trouble of hunting you down, you sweet, innocent little animal you.

[KJT922010T]

I want to be there for any soldier who is feeling these feelings. I want to be there to tell them its going to be ok, I will be here all the time talk to me, Tell me what your feeling. We all owe our troops a helping hand when they come back. It's difficult no soldier go's to war and comes back the same

[rodanosamehr]

There is still a great stigma attached to those who seek help in the military--this culture of brainwashed belief needs to be eradicated!

If you put a cat in the back yard and toss grenades all around it all day at the end of the day you will have a different animal.

[TheSpacefish2]

@dangolingo

Im going to side with the under dog here, just because he said the most obvious solution to the problem. ( not to mention all the fine educated people who then "ganged" up on him, with your helpful and non counterproductive words. Reminds me of safety in numbers and group mentality )

Remind me now...why did we invade Iraq? WMDs? Is that what the "Civilian Sector" was told...what dont we understand? What other conclusion can one who thinks come up with?

[Abrahamlol]

I Dont think a rapist or a murderer disserves to be treated fairly.

[RomanianSneezo]

I don't think that technology exists, and that's really not something that should be done to a human being. >_>

Really, don't you have any morals?