[Perseveranze]

Suicide is on the rise in the US military, averaging almost one every day, according to statistics.

In the first 155 days of 2012 there was 154 suicides among active troops, around 50% more than the number killed in action in Afghanistan, according to Pentagon statistics obtained by Associated Press. This is the highest number in 10 years.

The numbers reflect the burden of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to experts. The military is also struggling with increased sexual assaults, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and other problems.

Suicides had levelled off in 2010 and 2011, but this year's surge has caught officials by surprise.

Studies have pointed to combat exposure, post-traumatic stress, misuse of prescription drugs and personal financial problems as possible reasons for the increase.

Army data suggest soldiers with multiple combat tours are at greater risk of killing themselves, although a substantial proportion of the deaths are among soldiers who have never been deployed.

The unpopular war in Afghanistan is winding down with the last combat troops scheduled to leave at the end of 2014. But this year has seen record numbers of soldiers killed, and there also have been several scandals involving military misconduct.

The total of 154 suicides so far this year compares to 130 in the same period last year, an 18% increase. This year's January-May total is up 25% from two years ago, and it is 16% greater than in 2009, which ended with the highest yearly total so far.

Suicide totals have exceeded US combat deaths in Afghanistan in other years, including 2008 and 2009.

The numbers are rising despite years of effort to encourage troops to seek help with mental health problems. Many in the military believe that seeking help is a sign of weakness and a potential threat to promotion.

Kim Ruocco, widow of John Ruocco, a helicopter pilot who killed himself in 2005 between Iraq deployments, said he was unable to seek help.

"He was so afraid of how people would view him once he went for help," she said in an interview at her home in Boston. "He thought that people would think he was weak, that people would think he was just trying to get out of redeploying or trying to get out of service, or that he just couldn't hack it. In reality, he was sick. He had suffered injury in combat and he had also suffered from depression and let it go untreated for years."

Jackie Garrick, head of the newly established Defence Suicide Prevention Office at the Pentagon, said the increase in suicides was worrying, adding that the weak economy could also be to blame.

Dr Stephen Xenakis, a retired brigadier general and psychiatrist, said the suicides reflected the level of tension as the US gradually leaves Afghanistan.

"It's a sign of the stress the army has been under over the 10 years of war," he said. "We've seen before that these signs show up even more dramatically when the fighting seems to go down and the Army is returning to garrison."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...se-us-military

Not surprising when you're up against a battle-hardened enemy that's constantly motivated. I'm sure many of these folks can't wait to leave Afghanistan.

[EcclesRose]

Not surprised either - I wonder how many of these soldiers really feel they are fighting a just and necessary war, or whether they are being used to claim more oil in the name of the US

[Aj12]

(Original post by Perseveranze)
Not surprising when you're up against a battle-hardened enemy that's constantly motivated. I'm sure many of these folks can't wait to leave Afghanistan.

(Original post by EcclesRose)
Not surprised either - I wonder how many of these soldiers really feel they are fighting a just and necessary war, or whether they are being used to claim more oil in the name of the US

Threads been done. http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=2025495

As was pointed out in that thread PTSD and combat stress which many of these men were likely suffering from happens regardless of why you are fighting.

[Aaron_xyz]

Finally the OP got banned.