Report: Suicide rate spikes among young veterans

[Bill USA]

http://www.stripes.com/report-suicide-rate-spikes-among-young-veterans-1.261283

WASHINGTON -- The number of young veterans committing suicide jumped dramatically from 2009 to 2011, a worrying trend that Veterans Affairs officials hope can be reversed with more treatment and intervention.

New suicide data released by the department on Thursday showed that the rate of veterans suicide remained largely unchanged over that three-year period, the latest for which statistics are available. About 22 veterans a day take their own life, according to department estimates.

But while older veterans saw a slight decrease in suicides, male veterans under 30 saw a 44 percent increase in the rate of suicides. That’s roughly two young veterans a day who take their own life, most just a few years after leaving the service.

“Their rates are astronomically high and climbing,” said Jan Kemp, VA’s National Mental Health Director for Suicide Prevention. “That’s concerning to us.”
(more)

[tazkcmo]

1. Not a surprise

"But while older veterans saw a slight decrease in suicides, male veterans under 30 saw a 44 percent increase in the rate of suicides."

Duh. There are fewer older ones left and more younger ones. One day we will see these numbers decline as there will be fewer alive. And people wonder why I'm angry...

[NYC_SKP]

2. About 22 veterans a day take their own life, according to department estimates.

[font size=40]22 veterans a day![/font size]