Oh boy, bush is just wonderful!

[lisa]

Anyone but me hear the news? Seems our troops in the Middle East are committing suicide in record numbers.

[QuicksilverDon]

Haven't heard, but if it's record numbers, may just be due to accurate reporting. I know in Vietnam, in my battalion, deaths from drugs/suicide were reported as enemy action to spare families further grief.

[lisa]

Originally Posted by QuicksilverDon

Haven't heard, but if it's record numbers, may just be due to accurate reporting. I know in Vietnam, in my battalion, deaths from drugs/suicide were reported as enemy action to spare families further grief.

How horrid!!!

[BlueMeanie]

The suicide rate is not as sensational as it seems. Chalk this one up for media sensationalization. They are reporting real numbers, not relative numbers. According to the CDC's 2001 numbers (the newest), the national suicide rate is 10.7 people per 100,000. According to the research, the suicide rate in Iraq is 17.3 per 100,000. The national rate for all males is 18.2 per 100,000 which is HIGHER than Iraq! Considering our military is predominantly male, I make nothing special of these numbers

Here are the numbers in percentage terms.
Rate in Iraq 0.000173%
Rate in the US 0.000107%
Rate for males in the US 0.000182%

CDC Source http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/tab...husupdated.pdf

Dan

[lisa]

That is still not good!! I expect the troops to be depressed, but the suicide rate is more than half again what it is here.

And QSD-I have revised my opinion (after thinking about it). It is not necessarily horrid because if they were listed as killed by the enemy, then I assume that did their families a favor. I do not think that the government would pay benefits to widow and children if a soldier committed suicide whereas they would be more likely to do so if he was killed by the enemy.

I hope the troops come home soon!!

[BlueMeanie]

Lisa. If you read a report that says that the rate of death from asprin related complications is four times what was previously thought, would you stop taking it? By real numbers, it may jump from 2 cases to 8 cases. However, if you look at as relative numbers of 2 per 100,000 to 8 per 100,000, the rise is staticially insignificant. Yes, suicide is horrible, but keep these numbers in perspective. BTW. I looked at the CDC report again. The number of Males of all races between 20-24, prime military age is 20.5 per 100,000. That is higher than the Iraqi rate.

Dan

[InfernoRed]

Lisa,although death by suicide is indeed horrible........from having been in the military giving me direct experience...they still pay the benefit/insurance(usually $100,000-$200,000...depending on the choice opted for by the military member).I say this not simply because I was told and unquestionably accepted it...unfortunately in 1999,I had a familly member serving in the Army who took thier own life.My wife was listed as the beneficiary and recieved the amount listed.I believe the military is not entirely callous to the fact that the lifestyle imposed upon its members is very difficult.

InfernoRed

[lisa]

Originally Posted by BlueMeanie

Lisa. If you read a report that says that the rate of death from asprin related complications is four times what was previously thought, would you stop taking it? By real numbers, it may jump from 2 cases to 8 cases. However, if you look at as relative numbers of 2 per 100,000 to 8 per 100,000, the rise is staticially insignificant. Yes, suicide is horrible, but keep these numbers in perspective. BTW. I looked at the CDC report again. The number of Males of all races between 20-24, prime military age is 20.5 per 100,000. That is higher than the Iraqi rate.

Dan

MALES???? I do believe that there a quite a few females working in the military as well. I think I also heard that they were having trouble over there with some kind of illness-I can't remember what it was. I still wish they would come home soon and safe.
InfernoRed-I didn't know. Sometimes the military can make it difficult to get benefits for those that are missing, etc. so I did not know if they made it difficult for suicide victims families, also. You know, insurance companies do, so I figured it might be difficult for the armed services because of the honor code. I am glad to hear it, though.

[QuicksilverDon]

Originally Posted by lisa

That is still not good!! I expect the troops to be depressed, but the suicide rate is more than half again what it is here.

And QSD-I have revised my opinion (after thinking about it). It is not necessarily horrid because if they were listed as killed by the enemy, then I assume that did their families a favor. I do not think that the government would pay benefits to widow and children if a soldier committed suicide whereas they would be more likely to do so if he was killed by the enemy.

I hope the troops come home soon!!

There was a payout of $10,000 for death in service. I have no idea whether it was revoked for suicide.
There was a guy in 'Nam who dropped acid with a buddy. He started to have to have a "bummer", so his buddy came to grab friends to cheer him up, when we got to him, he'd stuck a .45 in his mouth and blew the back of his head off. What would've been the point of letting his parents know that?

War produces stress and ugly memories. Some escape from them with drugs, or alcohol, or look for a permanent solution.

I've read police have a high suicide rate - probably for the same reason.

[-GW-]

Lisa,
I have to question the title of your post. Regardless of the numbers why the attempt to blame the suicide rate in Iraq on President Bush?
If the rate was low would you credit him for that too??
These are soldiers, doing what they signed up to do. As a veteran of a previous conflict, I know that things can be depressing, especially being away from home, under tough conditions, for a long period of time. Maybe that has something to do with the rate, not the fact that the President sent them there.

-GW-