Soldier Suicides

Kristina Derro
Veterans Disability Lawyer

Heartbreakingly, a new report out from the Department of Defense shows that in 2012 more soldiers took their own lives than died in combat. Through November 2012, 177 active-duty personnel had committed suicide compared with 176 soldiers who were killed in action during the same time frame. Army suicides have increased by at least 54 percent since 2007.

Blame has been placed on the military culture in which soldiers believe they will be deemed weak and denied promotions if they seek mental health aid. There is also the problem that our soldiers today face multiple deployments during their service. However, the Army has referenced the anti-suicide strategy that that it put in place in April 2009 and claims that with the new programs in place it will just be a matter of time until they start making a dent in the issue. The Army stressed that soldiers are assured that seeking mental health counseling will not harm their chances at gaining a security clearance.

In July 2010, the Army released a report that purportedly explained its suicide epidemic. The report referenced loosened recruitment and retention standards due to the furious pace of repeated deployments. The Army claimed this allowed more than 47,000 people to remain in the Army, despite histories of substance abuse and misdemeanor crime. Obviously, this report only angered families who had lost members to suicide because it insinuates that those individuals were in some way “flawed” and prone to suicide, despite the fact that they served honorably. It also completely overlooked the fact that soldiers were subject to multiple deployments.

           

These findings only highlight the fact that the military culture is still one where mental health treatment is not fully embraced. It is also a sign that further programs need to be put into place in the military to prevent further suicides. Having our active-duty personnel being placed in harm’s way during combat is a necessary evil. Having them end up surviving combat, but dying once they get home due to a lack of a supportive military environment—the same military that sent them to combat—is atrocious.