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38 military suicides suspected for the month of July

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
August 20th, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

According to latest U.S. Army statistics, at least 38 service people are suspected of committing suicide in the month of July. This newest figure outpaces the 24 active-duty and reserve suicides reported for the month of June and is the highest monthly number of suicides since record-keeping began a few years ago. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "I do believe suicide is preventable," Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, vice chief of staff of the Army said in a press release. "To combat it effectively will require sophisticated solutions aimed at helping individuals to build resiliency and strengthen their life coping skills."

The Department of Defence has not given an official explanation for the surge in suicides among enlisted men.

According to Bruce Shahbaz, a medical analyst on the Army's Suicide Prevention Task Force, non-commissioned officers outnumbered those of junior enlisted members for the first time since 2001. Officers are far more likely to be older, married and at home between deployments, a period of time that can be turbulent and exacerbate stress.

"Issues like minor depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances -- those things that are kind of related to post-traumatic stress -- begin to surface after a service member has been home for more than a year, and start to reintegrate with their family . I liken it to a pot that's on simmer -- having that person stay back home and reintegrate with their family sometimes allows that pot to boil over," Shahbaz says.

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, a non-profit organization that provides counselling resources to suicide survivors, says that single suicide personally impacts at least 10 people.

"We are deeply saddened by these numbers, and renew our commitment to support the families left behind who are grieving the death of soldiers by suicide," the organization said in a statement.

So far in 2012, the Army has confirmed 66 active-duty suicides this year and is investigating 50 more, for a total of 116 cases. There were 165 confirmed active-duty suicides in 2011.

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Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)