With Rising Suicide Rates, Army Urges Soldiers to Act
US Military Related
With 2008 suicide rates expected to exceed last year's all-time-high rate, the Army is urging soldiers and their leaders to look out for each other and to see seeking mental-health help as a sign of strength.
Source: American Forces Information Services - News Articles
This will take some time but I hope they continue t work on changing the mind set so that future soldiers will see getting help with issues especially depression or loneliness as a good idea and not a sign of weakness that so many men see it as today.
International Level: Senior Politician / Political Participation: 188 18.8%
I am not sure that it is all depression or loneliness that is causing the suicide rate to go up. I know being in a combat situation where you stare at death on more than one occasion changes a person. When they come back their loved ones can not deal with the changes in their loved one. This can cause to service member a lot of heartache and feelings that they just do not fit in anywhere. Much of this is PTSD and needs to be more addressed with the service members who are returning to that states. When the Vet is feeling that many problems will be solved with his or her death then you have a problem that needs to be worked out.
I agree with you on that Klar combat is bad enough but when one returns it can be even more detrimental. The soldier has changed and needs help to deal with all they have experienced as does the soldiers loved ones.
International Level: Senior Politician / Political Participation: 188 18.8%
With two military bases close by we have seen a big increase in our military admits here at the hospital. Mostly for PTSD or depression with suicidal ideation. Or both. We have also seen an increase in military dependents. With all the active duty taxing the military mental health resources they are outsourcing dependent services. The demand for mental health services in the military is expected to increase. I have played with the idea of getting a job with the VA. Pay is better and I have federal employee rehire rights.
Interesting thing about my profession, when times get hard my workload increases.
International Level: Activist / Political Participation: 32 3.2%
If you have a change to get on at VA I would take it there Alskann. You will have plenty of work for a long time.
I live each day with PTSD and my family has come to understand it a lot. While I was never one to think about suicide I know many of people I served with has thought about it and a couple have tried. Granted a fleeting thought crossed my mind here and there but not long enough for me to really thing about it. I love life too much.
Not sure if this is 100% right to place here but I did read a study done on WWI and WWII veterans and people with deep christian beliefs fared better then the non believers. It did not comment on other religious sectors.
International Level: Senior Politician / Political Participation: 188 18.8%
there could be something to that as the followers of christ have someone they can talk to through their prest/pastor or even a church leader that can provide them some guidance in their suffering without that person prejudging them. I know it was my religious belief that helped me after the war. I think it is continuing to assist me in all I do. Maybe they should do a study on the gulf war vets and the number of suicides being committed by those who are religious like they did with WWI and WWII