18 U.S. veterans commit suicide everyday

[stosstruppe]

Wow

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN30525645

As a slight digression, Falklands war, more British veterans have now committed suicide than were killed in the conflict (255 if I recall collectively). You never hear about the loss of life though once a person leaves the forces.

You hear about guys (& gals) coming home maimed and mutilated, but there seems to be little awareness about PTSD & other mental health problems of our armed forces personnel / veterans.

 

[EnderJE]

Well, this may sound harsh, but that's the life that they chose. Unfortunately, it led them to that place.

 

[Arabian]

Whoa, thats sad

 

[uncle-jimmy]

Sickening to say the least

 

[gotmilk]

Disgusting. These guys and girls are not getting the help they need, the financial support they need, or the extended support our government is supposed to provide even after they leave.

My Dad returned from Afghanistan and now runs our State's Veteran's Assistance program. He needed a $20 Million grant to cover this fiscal year and Washington rejected the request stating there are no funds available at this time.

I'd carpetbomb half of this administration

 

[motorol@]

so 6,570 vets kill themself each year? I don't think I buy it

 

[stosstruppe]

Well, this may sound harsh, but that's the life that they chose. Unfortunately, it led them to that place.

While I understand your perception, as another slight digression, this is an all too prevalent attitude among the "civilian" population - especially in the UK - as today's Western society has few vets compared with say the 20th century, when you had millions & millions of young men and women - veterans - from WW1 & then WW2 & all the other conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Malaya, Kenya etc) who could identify more so with people in the armed forces & those that had been in conflicts.

When my old man was growing up - virtually every full grown man (like his teachers) was a veteran or had done 2+ years of national service.

so 6,570 vets kill themself each year? I don't think I buy it

How many men and women are currently serving in the US armed forces? Doesn't your Marine Corps number in the hundreds of thousands at any one time just now? A vet can be anywhere from the age of say 20 to 80+.

 

[needtogetarmy]

so 6,570 vets kill themself each year? I don't think I buy it

That is not a correct statistic. I was looking at the death rates in the Army Times and the suicide rate is not that high. it averages 7.5-15 suicides per year per 100,000 troops.

Total deaths per year are not even that high.

More people get murdered on the streets of America each year than soldiers get killed in war.

http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/castop.htm

A ton of statistics here.

Just look at 2006: 192 soldiers committed suicide. Total deaths, including the war, were 1,876.

http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/Death_Rates.pdf

Historically suicide rates have gone down drastically (look at the chart). I know many people complain the military doesn't provide the best benefits but I personally know people who have been fucked up who have received outstanding care. Not all systems are perfect.

Yes the VA needs more money and more should be done - the goddamn politicians who have sold us short need to be shot.

 

[stosstruppe]

That is not a correct statistic. I was looking at the death rates in the Army Times and the suicide rate is not that high. it averages 7.5-15 suicides per year per 100,000 troops.

I stand corrected, though still approach the statistics from a UK perspective where the forces don't actively track the suicide rates of their veterans - people now outside of their relevant branch of the armed forces & thus subsequent healthcare system.

 

[the_alcatraz]

so 6,570 vets kill themself each year? I don't think I buy it

+1

 

[needtogetarmy]

Just on another note the news article was looking at veteran suicides, which would not be included in the chart I posted so the number must be higher.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/suicide/SuicideDataSheet.pdf

The CDC says that 32,000 people kill themselves each year (total US population). If 6,570 are vets than 1/5 suicides are veterans. That could be possible.

I stand corrected.

 

[needtogetarmy]

K to all you bros for being objective and good thread.

 

[javaguru]

I posted before the Iraq invasion that the admin cutting the VA budget was a big mistake and that if anything it would need to be increased. My representative is on the Armed Services committee and I'm a letter writer.

 

[Raptorex]

I heard it is higher among Islamic Fascists?

 

[needtogetarmy]

I heard it is higher among Islamic Fascists?

lol

 

[Razorguns]

Wow

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN30525645

As a slight digression, Falklands war, more British veterans have now committed suicide than were killed in the conflict (255 if I recall collectively). You never hear about the loss of life though once a person leaves the forces.

You hear about guys (& gals) coming home maimed and mutilated, but there seems to be little awareness about PTSD & other mental health problems of our armed forces personnel / veterans.

Where are they getting these numbers of "18 a day"???

Soldiers know they will be treated like shit from day one. They're taught this at boot camp. "Got a problem? DEAL WITH IT" - is what they're taught.

I have no idea what makes a soldier, or anyone else, think that once they get out -- all of a sudden the government will be all nice and cozy and treat them like princes.

It doesn't work like that.

There's a new trend of 'pampering the privates' - and it saddens me. All to get more numbers I guess.

hint: When it's peacetime, there's less money, and vets/soldiers get treated like even more shit.

r

 

[Raptorex]

By Adam Tanner

SAN FRANCISCO, April 30 (Reuters) - Saying 18 U.S. veterans commit suicide every day,

Lol, bro do you have to ask any further?

Where are they getting these numbers of "18 a day"???

Soldiers know they will be treated like shit from day one. They're taught this at boot camp. "Got a problem? DEAL WITH IT" - is what they're taught.

I have no idea what makes a soldier, or anyone else, think that once they get out -- all of a sudden the government will be all nice and cozy and treat them like princes.

It doesn't work like that.

There's a new trend of 'pampering the privates' - and it saddens me. All to get more numbers I guess.

hint: When it's peacetime, there's less money, and vets/soldiers get treated like even more shit.

r

 

[Razorguns]

Yeah but where did they get that info?

Journalists also believed the housing boom would last forever. That manipulating money and credit supply was a good thing for the economy.

r

 

[EnderJE]

While I understand your perception, as another slight digression, this is an all too prevalent attitude among the "civilian" population - especially in the UK - as today's Western society has few vets compared with say the 20th century, when you had millions & millions of young men and women - veterans - from WW1 & then WW2 & all the other conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Malaya, Kenya etc) who could identify more so with people in the armed forces & those that had been in conflicts.

When my old man was growing up - virtually every full grown man (like his teachers) was a veteran or had done 2+ years of national service.

No disrespect, but...

I don't feel bad if a person dies of smoking related diseases. A person can make decisions on their own and is responsible for their own actions. You wanna kill yourself because you went to war and were impacted by the horrors over there? Good for you. That's your right.

If there's anything that the reigning people in power have taught me is that soldiers are expendable assets. Throw them into the meat grinder and no one gives a fuck about it. Anyone who speaks out...call them unpatriotic or a terrorist. Verbally support the soldiers, but then cut their benefits and lengthen their terms.

 

[Razorguns]

No disrespect, but...

I don't feel bad if a person dies of smoking related diseases. A person can make decisions on their own and is responsible for their own actions. You wanna kill yourself because you went to war and were impacted by the horrors over there? Good for you. That's your right.

If there's anything that the reigning people in power have taught me is that soldiers are expendable assets. Throw them into the meat grinder and no one gives a fuck about it. Anyone who speaks out...call them unpatriotic or a terrorist. Verbally support the soldiers, but then cut their benefits and lengthen their terms.

No shit.

How many have MARCHED in the streets, campaigning for BETTER pay for soldiers?

(look up the pay for an E1. It's laughable).

That's cuz they'll have to pay more taxes. Fuck that! We support the soldiers, but dammit not that much!

People just wanna post stickers and look cool and feel proud at night. Nothing more.

The fact that they couldn't care less about Walter Reed, or disabled Veterans, or Soldiers having problems - proves that.

Which is why i always advocate NOT joining the military, unless you are 'okay' with the above first.

r