Services wrestle with rise in suicide rates

[unhappycamper]

Services wrestle with rise in suicide rates
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Feb 5, 2009 16:00:24 EST

With all the services’ suicides rates increasing last year, lawmakers are growing concerned about whether the trend is an indication of deeper problem within the ranks.

“This suicide rate issue is the canary in the mine, in a sense,” said Rep. Zach Wamp, R- Tenn., as he asked the services’ senior enlisted advisers for their thoughts about the reasons for the increase.

The Army’s increase in suicide rates for four consecutive years is an indicator of the stress being placed on the force by two high-tempo wars, Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston told the House Appropriations subcommittee on military construction and veterans affairs at a hearing Wednesday.

In 2008, 128 soldiers committed suicide, with investigations continuing into 15 additional possible suicides.

“I say it’s the tempo,” Preston said. “It’s the pace, it’s the dynamics of all the things that are occurring in young people’s lives.”


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/military_suicides_020509w/%2e

[Divine Discontent]

1. Pres Obama cannot bring them home fast enough.... eom