Soldier Suicides at Record Level

Soldier Suicides at Record Level

www.washingtonpost.com

Suicides among active-duty soldiers in 2007 reached their highest level since the Army began keeping such records in 1980, according to a draft internal study obtained by The Washington Post. Last year, 121 soldiers took their own lives, nearly 20 percent more than in 2006.

At the same time, the number of attempted suicides or self-inflicted injuries in the Army has jumped sixfold since the Iraq war began. Last year, about 2,100 soldiers injured themselves or attempted suicide, compared with about 350 in 2002, according to the U.S. Army Medical Command Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

(visit the link for the full news article)

This is disturbing news, but one that can be looked at in different ways.

Has the world changed so much that soldiers are now unable to bear the hardships and horrors of war?

Or were suicide rates just as high (taken as a percentage of personnel involved) in other conflicts, but either never measured, or covered up?

Either way, this does not bode well for the armed services.

www.washingtonpost.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Reply to budski

Has the world changed so much that soldiers are now unable to bear the hardships and horrors of war?

Well you are bound to go crazy if you don’t know why you are there in first place and fighting an illegal war.

The US is very keen on military technology because they know that US soldiers can’t bear hardships of war especially fighting face to face with the enemy on ground level.

Guerrilla warfare is a nightmare for them.

reply to post by kangjia57


I'm not sure how you equate "crazy" to depression and desperation - which is the usual cause of suicide.

Brushing up on mental health issues may help gain a better understanding.

The WHO says between 25% and 33% of ALL people will suffer from a mental illness during their lifetime.

By your use of crazy, this would make between 1.5 billion and 2biliion people crazy.

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