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October 13, 2010
Suicide Rate Among Active Army Troops Remains Hig
The New York Times (10/11, A11, McKinley) reports that a spate of recent suicides at Fort Hood in Texas "reflects a chilling reality: nearly 20 months after the Army began strengthening its suicide prevention program and working to remove the stigma attached to seeking psychological counseling, the suicide rate among active service members remains high and shows little sign of improvement."
As of the end of "August, at least 125 active members of the Army had ended their own lives, exceeding the morbid pace of last year, when there were a record 162 suicides." According to experts and advocacy groups, numerous factors may be contributing to the problem, such as multiple deployments, "placing the burden on the soldier to seek help rather than on officers to actively find the damaged psyches in their corps," a shortage of psychiatrists, financial stress, family tensions, and a culture that discourages any show of weakness.
Related Links:
- "Despite Army Efforts, Soldier Suicides Continue," James C. McKinley, Jr., New York Times, October 10, 2010.
Posted by admin at October 13, 2010 07:40 PM