[ad_1]
US Army suicides reached a record high this year among active-duty troops, continuing a deadly trend that, according to Pentagon officials, is frustrating and hard to counter.
The army, navy and navy corps have all seen the number of suicides increase as well as the total number of people, with only the air force posting a decrease, according to recent data. published by the Pentagon. Suicides among Reserve and National Guard members have also increased.
Difficulties in identifying potentially problematic service members and finding ways to prevent suicides were highlighted earlier this month when the Navy announced that three crew members had served on the aircraft. USS George HW Bush had committed suicide in a week.
Asked about the dead in the aircraft carrier's crew, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said, "I would like to be able to tell you that we have a solution to prevent future suicides in the armed forces. We do not. We are caught in what some are calling a national suicide epidemic among our youth. "
The number of suicides in the army has increased from 511 in 2017 to 541 in 2018. According to the Pentagon, the population most at risk is made up of young men, and at least 60% of the time, they chose a weapon to fire as a method of suicide. Suicides in the army increased from 114 to 139, while marine forces increased from 43 to 58 and the navy from 65 to 68. Air forces increased from 63 to 60.
"Our numbers are not going in the right direction," said Elizabeth Van Winkle, director of the Pentagon's Force Resilience Office. She said that most military rates are comparable to those of civilians, but added that "this has little comfort".
The suicide rate among soldiers on active duty was 24.8 per 100,000 population in 2018. In 2017, this figure was 21.9 per 100,000 men. Five years ago, the suicide rate among soldiers was 18.5 per 100,000 members.
This compares to 18.2 out of 100,000 for all Americans aged 17 to 59. The report states that, taking age and sex into account, the rate of the military is about the same as that of American society.
Military and defense leaders expressed dismay and determination to do more to increase the resilience of the force, train military personnel to better manage stress and encourage troops to seek help when they need it. Van Winkle said the army also plans to step up its efforts to train its troops in the safe keeping of firearms and drugs.
She and Karen Orvis, Director of the Suicide Prevention Office, said it was very difficult to recognize service members who could struggle or commit suicide, and that suicide was sometimes a sudden and impulsive decision with little warning.
They also acknowledged that service members were still hesitant to ask for help.
"Just as we are talking about fitness, shooting, training and education, the Marines must also be comfortable discussing the difficulties of life, mental well-being and suicide." declared General David Berger, commander of the Marine Corps. "We need to create a community where asking for help and assistance is simply a normal and important decision that mariners and sailors take."
This year, for the first time this year, the Pentagon included statistics on suicides committed by military spouses and dependents. Van Winkle said the latest figures available for 2017, but officials are trying to improve family data collection.
According to the report, 186 families committed suicide, including 123 wives and 63 dependents aged 12 to 23 years.
-
In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 800-273-8255 or discuss for support. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted at 116 123 or by email at [email protected] or [email protected]. In Australia, Lifeline Emergency Assistance is available at 13 11 14 or on their website. Other international support lines are available at Befrienders.
[ad_2]
Source link