[lou_lou]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n3496471.shtml

this is not good - this is abit of awareness that the vets are hurting mentally.

article also has a video -
They are the casualties of wars you don’t often hear about - soldiers who die of self-inflicted wounds. Little is known about the true scope of suicides among those who have served in the military.

But a five-month CBS News investigation discovered data that shows a startling rate of suicide, what some call a hidden epidemic, Chief Investigative Reporter Armen Keteyian reports exclusively.

“I just felt like this silent scream inside of me,” said Jessica Harrell, the sister of a soldier who took his own life.

"I opened up the door and there he was," recalled Mike Bowman, the father of an Army reservist.

"I saw the hose double looped around his neck,” said Kevin Lucey, another military father.

"He was gone,” said Mia Sagahon, whose soldier boyfriend committed suicide.

[Alffe]

The article went on to say...


It found that veterans were more than twice as likely to commit suicide in 2005 than non-vets. (Veterans committed suicide at the rate of between 18.7 to 20.8 per 100,000, compared to other Americans, who did so at the rate of 8.9 per 100,000.)

One age group stood out. Veterans aged 20 through 24, those who have served during the war on terror. They had the highest suicide rate among all veterans, estimated between two and four times higher than civilians the same age. (The suicide rate for non-veterans is 8.3 per 100,000, while the rate for veterans was found to be between 22.9 and 31.9 per 100,000.)

Tena those are just heartbreaking statistics. I appreciate you sharing this....I have to wonder where it will all end....how we can do something, anything to make life precious to people who have lost all hope...who have done things in the name of duty that go against God and human nature..people who have been to hell and back.

[Doody]

This has been going on for awhile. Statistics were out there some time ago and very disheartening. And not only happening 'over there', but after they return as well.

I'm so upset about my neighbors. He left for a tour of duty years ago right after his wife found out she was pregnant with their first child. They let him come home 9 months later to have the pregnancy induced, stayed for a few weeks, and then he had to go back.

He did make it home after about a year and a half tour. They have 2 more little children. Now...his unit has orders yet again. He's already gone to training on the east coast, or preparation, and they will ship out...again...to Iraq for a 1 year tour with a possible 1-year extension.

A young, student wife and 3 little kids under the age of 5. I'm just heart sick about it.

Thanks ((Tina)) for pointing out the other casualties of this senseless 'war'.

[DMACK]

CTenaLouise

I'm so glad someone has brought this up.

I.m 43 and at the tender age of 18 was in the Royal Navy, during the Falklands War ........over 200 UK service men died in this war,,OVER 700 have committed suiced after the war ended.

Another statistic, in London alone there are over 1500 homeless ex service men living in Homeless hostels or mostly rough sleeping. [ many alcoholic, and drug dependant, with severe mental illness]

My own father, who served in the British Army in WWII, Who landed on D-Day....[was a morturer in the medical core] then was amongst the first unit that liberated the concertration camp BELSEN]

He suffered alcoholism all his adult life, terryifying night terrors, and two years before his death in 1996 was only then diagnosed with Post traumatic War dissorder. THREE WEEKS after we burried him he recieved a war pension in the post.

SHOCKING...............