Army Reports "Stunning" Rise in Suicides

Stoltz (0.00 / 0)

Was just on MSNBC talking about this report, here's a few more links  I'll be placing in my post as well:

Army official: Suicides in January 'terrifying'

Army Releases January Suicide Data; Re-emphasizes Efforts

Army sees significant rise in January suicides

Soldier suicides up for 4th consecutive year

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

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by: jimstaro @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 14:39:04 PM CST

A Few Earlier Reports on Shinseki (0.00 / 0)

Shinseki pledges top-down review, change

"I intend to ... demand the highest levels of integrity, transparency and performance in leading the department through the fundamental and comprehensive change it must quickly undergo," Shinseki said. "There's a long tradition of VA providing leadership in medicine, of setting standards in many fields. Where we lead, we must continue. Where we do not, we must regain that leadership."

Paperwork among VA chief's priorities

The newly appointed head of the Department of Veterans Affairs said Wednesday the department needs a fundamental change in how it handles its paperwork.

Eric Shinseki described a Sisyphean task for caseworkers trying to plow through the backlog of files to make decisions on veterans' claims.

Members of the committee peppered Shinseki with questions about the VA's handling of mental health issues. The secretary said that much progress has been made in understanding traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) since he served in Vietnam, but there is plenty more to do.

"I am now watching all of our efforts to understand PTSD, TBI, substance abuse amongst our veterans and have a better appreciation of what we put my comrades through when we came back" from Vietnam, he said. "None of these programs were available, in fact. None of these terms were in vogue then. We still don't understand enough. We are still learning."

The chairman of the committee, Rep. Bob Filner, D-California, expressed frustration that screenings for the disorders were done through a self-evaluation, rather than through medical examination, and he implored Shinseki to change that.

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

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by: jimstaro @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 14:49:48 PM CST

ABC News End of Last Month Report (0.00 / 0)

Military Suicides at a 30-Year High

Suicide Rate Reflects Toll of Army Life

With Suicides at a 30-Year High, Army Vows to Address Problem

In 2008 alone, the Army reports there were at least 128 confirmed cases of suicide, more than a dozen of which are still under review.

U.S. Army Suicides Highest In 3 Decades

 

And this is just reports on the Army, nothing yet on any possible Marine numbers.

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

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by: jimstaro @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 15:08:13 PM CST

This is also why i'm concerned... (0.00 / 0)

about escalation in Afghanistan and inevitable redeployments. However, absent a published Afghanistan plan I'll hold off on judgment.  

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by: Ernie1812 @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 15:15:15 PM CST

My Air Force Experience (4.00 / 2)

Back in the late 1990s, the Air Force instituted a suicide prevention program which has been quite effective, reducing the suicide rate by about 30%.

The essence of the program is training for commanders, supervisors, medical personnel, and airmen on recognition of signs of suicide risk and how to intervene. However, in my experience, the single most effective part of the program was a thorough investigation of each suicide, done by a multidisciplinary team from the MAJCOM. The squadron commander was responsible for briefing the results of the investigation to the MAJCOM Vice Commander (usually a 3-star). The Group & Wing Commanders were also present.

As a MAJCOM Chief of Medical Operations, I participated in these often unpleasant briefings. Errors made by the chain of command, such as failure to recognize distress, punishment rather than help in response to signs of PTSD or depression, and especially taking pay from airmen in financial difficulty, were present in at least 80% of the cases I saw. Sometimes the mental health care system failed too, but at least as frequently the person had not received any care.

I know the Army is different (!) but from what I've seen in the press I do not get the feeling that the chain of command is held responsible when there is a suicide.

Is there a process for accountability in the Army now?

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by: Katherine Scheirman @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 16:46:23 PM CST