According to Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli as of Monday, 140 active duty soldiers were believed to have died of self-inflicted wounds so far in 2009. That’s the same as were confirmed for all of 2008. The rising suicide rate is not unique to the Army. Marine Corps suicides also are higher again this year — there were 42 reported as of Oct. 31 compared with 42 for all of 2008, 33 in 2007 and 25 in 2006.
He also said officials will continue to focus on things that are symptoms of high-risk individuals such as undiagnosed brain injuries like concussions; on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and on risky behavior such as poor diet and sleep habits as well as more serious behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse.
The Army widened its suicide prevention in March in an attempt to make rapid improvements. In October, the service introduced its Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which Chiarelli called “the biggest step … taken to enhance wellness in the entire force through prevention rather than treatment.” The program aims to put the same emphasis on mental and emotion strength as the military traditionally has on physical strength. Basic training now includes anti-stress programs as part of a broader effort to help soldiers deal with the aftereffects of combat and prevent suicides.
Also last month, the Army started using a new screening questionnaire to try to determine pre-existing or current mental health issues among troops as part of the enlistment process. Despite those campaigns, another jump in suicide figures for 2009 would make it the fifth straight year that such deaths have set a record within the military. Last year’s 140 record erased a high 115 in 2007 and 102 in 2006.
