Health
Number of suicides in the military up
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 16, 2009
For the fourth consecutive year, the Army has seen an increase in the number of suicides among soldiers. There were 128 suicides in 2008, with determinations still pending in another 15 deaths.
These figures, which were announced Jan. 29, amount to about 20 suicides per 100,000 soldiers. In 2007 there were 115 suicides.
Over the past two years, the Army has stepped up its efforts to identify those at risk and provide help. Key to these efforts is eliminating the stigma associated with seeking mental health care, said Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff. "We need to help our soldiers and their families understand it's OK to ask for help."
The Army and the National Institute of Mental Health signed an agreement last fall to conduct long-term research to identify factors that affect the mental and behavioral health of soldiers and to put in place mitigation strategies to help bring down the suicide rate. The study will include soldiers from the active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/02/16/hlbf0216.htm.