U.S. military suicides remain high for 7th year

[Peter1469]

U.S. military suicides remain high for 7th year

It is over double the civilian rate.

The Pentagon reported Friday that 265 active-duty service members killed themselves last year, continuing a trend of unusually high suicide rates that have plagued the U.S. military for at least seven years.The numbers of suicides among troops was 145 in 2001 and began a steady increase until more than doubling to 321 in 2012, the worst year in recent history for service members killing themselves.


The suicide rate for the Army that year was nearly 30 suicides per 100,000 soldiers, well above the national rate of 12.5 per 100,000 for 2012.


Military suicides dropped 20% the year after that, and then held roughly steady at numbers significantly higher than during the early 2000s. The 265 suicides last year compares with 273 in 2014 and 254 in 2013. By contrast, from 2001 through 2007, suicides never exceeded 197.


"Suicide prevention remains a top priority, and the Department will continue its efforts to reduce deaths by suicide among its service members," said Marine Lt. Col. Hermes Gabrielle, a Pentagon spokeswoman. "Reducing suicide risk entails creating a climate that encourages servicemembers to seek help, reducing access to lethal means and broadening communication and awareness to Service members and their families."

[Crepitus]

U.S. military suicides remain high for 7th year

It is over double the civilian rate.

"Suicide prevention remains a top priority, and the Department will continue its efforts to reduce deaths by suicide among its service members," said Marine Lt. Col. Hermes Gabrielle, a Pentagon spokeswoman. "Reducing suicide risk entails creating a climate that encourages service members to seek help, reducing access to lethal means and broadening communication and awareness to Service members and their families."

How are you gonna reduce a soldiers access to lethal means?

[Peter1469]

I am not sure what he is referring to.

[Cletus]

It is indicative of how society in general has become weak.

[Peter1469]

It might be better record keeping keeping today. If it was just society then the military rate should track the civilian rate. Particularly in age groups.

[Cletus]

It might be better record keeping keeping today. If it was just society then the military rate should track the civilian rate. Particularly in age groups.

Not necessarily. Military personnel still face more stress and hardship than their civilian counterparts. If they are prone to breakage, the difference in stress levels may push them over the edge.

Better record keeping and data collection may give us a better picture than we had in the past, but I do believe that people today, particularly young military age males are weaker than they were in the past. Society is breeding the traits necessary to face adversity and then just go on with their lives right out of them. Look at the rise in PTSD (the biggest scam in history) cases today.

[waltky]

Still too many veteran suicides...

New VA Study Finds 20 Veterans Die by Suicide Each Day
Jul 07, 2016 | The most comprehensive study yet made of veteran suicide concludes that on average 20 veterans a day are taking their own lives.

The average daily tally is two less than the VA previously estimated, but is based on a more thorough review of Defense Department records, records from each state and data from the Centers for Disease Control, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. "One veteran suicide is one too many, and this collaborative effort provides both updated and comprehensive data that allows us to make better informed decisions on how to prevent this national tragedy," said Dr. David J. Shulkin, VA Under Secretary for Health. "We as a nation must focus on bringing the number of veteran suicides to zero." The VA said in a statement that the report will be released at the end of July.

One finding unchanged from the VA's 2012 report -- which was based on 2010 figures -- is that veterans age 50 and older are more likely than their younger counterparts to commit suicide. But even here the latest findings adjust that number downward, from just over 69 percent inthe VA’s 2012 report to 65 percent. The study found that veterans accounted for 18 percent of all deaths from suicide among U.S. adults in 2014 -- a decrease from 22 percent in 2010. Veteran suicides increased at a rate higher than adult civilians between 2001 and 2014. The civilian rate grew by 23 percent while veteran suicides increased 32 percent over the same period. "After controlling for age and gender, this makes the risk of suicide 21 percent greater for veterans," the VA said.

Veteran contemplating at a table

The study also found that the suicide rates among veterans -- male and female -- who use VA services increased, though not at the rate among veterans who did not use the services. Overall, the suicide rate since 2001 among all veterans using VA services grew by 8.8 percent versus 38.6 percent for those who did not. For male veterans, the rate increased 11 percent and 35 percent, respectively. For female vets, the rates increased 4.6 percent and 98 percent, according to the study. In its last study, the VA noted that its figures probably were underestimated, in part because it relied on state records that were not always complete or accurate. Another shortcoming with the earlier report is that it used information from only 21 states. "The ability of death certificates to fully capture female Veterans was particularly low; only 67 percent of true female Veterans were identified," the report stated. "Younger or unmarried Veterans and those with lower levels of education were also more likely to be missed on the death certificate."

The increasing rate of female suicides prompted Congress to pass theFemale Veterans Suicide Act, which President Obama signed into law last month. The VA's announcement does not offer an explanation why older veterans are more likely to commit suicide, though Dr. Tom Berger, a Navy corpsman in Vietnam and now executive director of the Veterans Health Council at Vietnam Veterans of America, previously told Military.com that sometimes veterans reach an age where they're not as active with work or other commitments that may have been coping mechanisms for post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health issues. The VA said in its announcement on Thursday that over 1.6 million veterans received mental health treatment from the department, including at more than 150 medical centers, 820 community-based outpatient clinics and 300 Vet Centers. Veterans also enter VA health care through theVeterans Crisis Line, VA staff on college and university campuses, or other outreach points. The VA anticipates having 1,000 locations where veterans can receive mental health care by the end of 2016.

Efforts to address the high suicide rates among veterans also include predictive modeling -- using clinical signs of suicide -- to determine which vets may be at highest risk, the VA said in its statement. This system will enable providers to intervene early in the cases of most at-risk veterans. The VA is also expanding telemental health care by establishing four new regional telemental health hubs across the VA health care system, hiring more than 60 new crisis intervention responders for the Veterans Crisis Line, and building new partnerships between VA programs and community-based programs.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...-each-day.html

[waltky]

Veteran Commits Suicide in VA Hospital Parking Lot...

Vet's Suicide in VA Hospital Parking Lot Brings New Scrutiny to Agency
Aug 26, 2016 - The suicide of a 76-year-old former Navy man in the parking lot of a New York VA hospital where he was allegedly denied care has raised new questions about the federal agency, and his family and friends hope his death won't be in vain.

Peter A. Kaisen, 76, of Islip, shot and killed himself outside the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he had been a patient. "He went there for help with depression," said Thomas Farley, a friend of Kaisen's for 40 years. "That was his last hope, and he didn't get any help." "Maybe he can be used as an example to make things better," said Farley, who spoke on behalf of the family. "Maybe we can save someone else's life." "That way, he would not have died in vain," he said. Kaisen served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1962, working on the USS Denebola, a ship that delivered refrigerated items and equipment to ships in the fleet, his friend said.

According to Farley, Kaisen was severely injured in a car accident while working as an officer for the Long Beach Police Department in the late 60's. After that, he was disabled, Farley said, and "had been on constant medication since." The Suffolk County Police Department declined to comment on Kaisen's death. The FBI confirmed to FoxNews.com on Thursday that the agency had investigated the death because it occurred on federal property, but said there was nothing criminal involved. An online obituary in Kaisen's name describes him as a "devoted husband, beloved father, grandfather, cherished friend and brother."

Two sources connected to the hospital told the New York Times that Kaisen was upset he was unable to see an emergency-room physician for reasons related to his mental health. "He went to the E.R. and was denied service," one of the people, who currently works at the hospital, told the Times. "And then he went to his car and shot himself." "Someone dropped the ball," the worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the paper. "They should not have turned him away." The hospital, meanwhile, reportedly said there was no indication Kaisen showed up at the E.R. prior to the incident. Hospital spokesman Christopher Goodman told the paper that "the employees here at Northport feel this loss deeply and extend their thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by this tragedy."

Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who is on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and whose district is near the hospital, was trying to confirm the details of Kaisen's death, according to a spokeswoman. The federal agency has been under fire for more than two years, following a stunning national review that revealed widespread corruption at facilities across the nation -- from rejected medical claims to delays in treatment and cover-ups by high-level officials. The review, by the Inspector General, was triggered when a whistle-blower revealed that as many as 40 veterans died waiting for as long as 21 months for care at a Phoenix facility. The whistle-blower claimed – and the review confirmed -- that officials cooked the books to hide the wait times and deaths so hospital executives could qualify for bonuses.

Doctors and whistle-blowers from other VA hospitals came forward, citing long wait times and similar bookkeeping. A yearlong investigation by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., suggested that the number of veterans who died awaiting care or treatment over the past decade could top 1,000. Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned in May 2014 and was replaced by current VA Secretary Robert McDonald. Farley described Kaisen as a devoted father and grandfather who never stopped caring for friends and family. "I'm a Vietnam vet -- disabled from Agent Orange -- and he was always looking out for me. He was such a faithful guy," Farley said. "He was such a big advocate for veterans and that's what makes it's so sad," he said.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...ny-agency.html

[exploited]

It is indicative of how society in general has become weak.

I have a feeling that you find small, yappy dogs tough, and big, quiet dogs weak.

[waltky]

Marines reunite to remember another brother lost to suicide, losing one more part of themselves...

Commentary: Losing Sense of Self One Suicide at a Time
Sep 01, 2016 | This article by Gerardo Mena originally appeared on TheWarHorse.org, a nonprofit investigative news organization focused on covering the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

Gerardo Mena reunites with his Marine brethren to remember another brother lost to suicide. They tell him goodbye -- losing one more part of themselves, knowing it could have been one of them. It was the morning of Paul's funeral, and John, Sean and I sat outside our hotel in Salt Lake City waiting for Benny to roll out of bed. Benny had been out late at a strip club; I hadn't felt like going. Maybe in my younger days, maybe on a different day, but Paul had been family -- as family as being in the same platoon during a war deployment could make him -- and we had just road tripped for 24 hours across the country to tell him goodbye. "I hate to ask," Sean said, "but I know we're all thinking it. Do you guys think he killed himself from the PTSD?" The question hung in the air. The answer wouldn't come until much later, but that's a story for another time.

The first time I thought Paul had died was during our Iraq deployment in 2006. As Recon Marines, we usually conducted rough, brash, violent missions. But that day, we had decided on a public-relations mission and sent out a team to buy some candy at the local market to hand out. As Paul was throwing the loot to the Iraqi kids, a sniper shot him. The bullet entered one leg, traveled up into his pelvis, ricocheted off the bone, and went down and out the other leg. It did major damage to his arteries, and he was a geyser of blood. John patched him up as I called in support. Paul's skin looked waxen as John loaded him into the CASEVAC helicopter. Paul asked John to tell his mom that he loved her. That a------. Always a pillar of goodness.

Benny finally came out of his room, a giant grin spread across his face. He offered a high-five to me and muttered, "the door girl." I refused to return the gesture, and Benny smiled as we all piled into John's car. "Anyone hungry?" John asked as we pulled out of the hotel parking lot and headed toward a highway that led downtown. We all mumbled "no." Somehow sadness is satiating. Silence hung heavy again. So John just drove to where his gut took him. And, as usual, it took him to a gas station to buy a 30-pack of Coors. This was how we started all of our get-togethers. Everyone grabbed a beer, popped the top, and chugged as a warmup for a possible adventure.

As we did, we got a glimpse of a hill in the distance at the edge of the city that was reminiscent of hills we'd summited early in our Recon Marine training. Hills that made you struggle and earn your place at the top with sweat and vomit, that demanded a large payment in the only currency that mattered to men like us: pain. "Well, boys, let's climb that monster. We'll do it for Paul," John said. We nodded in agreement. He pulled out of the gas station parking lot, driving into the neighborhood. As we passed suburban matchstick houses with newly tiled roofs and landscaped lawns, footpaths and freshly planted gardens, I couldn't help but smile and think that this was what we fought for in Iraq. For most of us Recon boys, this was the backdrop of our youths. We were such idealistic boys then, not the hardened men we are now.

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