If the troops support the war, why are suicides at a 26 year high?

Question

Failed personal relationships, legal and financial problems and the stress of their jobs were factors motivating the soldiers to commit suicide, according to the report.

"In addition, there was a significant relationship between suicide attempts and number of days deployed" in Iraq, Afghanistan or nearby countries where troops are participating in the war effort, it said. The same pattern seemed to hold true for those who not only attempted, but succeeded in killing themselves.

There also "was limited evidence to support the view that multiple ... deployments are a risk factor for suicide behaviors," it said.

What's causing this?

Forgot to include the link

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070816/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_suicides

Answer 1

Not just the war. Relationships suffer because of the stress of long distance relationships, time apart. Combat gives you PTSS which contributes to suicide too. There are many factors here.

Answer 2

If you've never been in the military, you'll never understand it.

It's not like working at McDonald's, you don't just do your shift and go drink beer and watch movies with your friends. It's not a job, it's a life.

It's not like being a professional athlete either, where even if the fans don't cheer, even if they boo, they all voluntarily came out and paid money to sit there.

Being in the service is a sacrifice, and when you hear the media reporting not just congressmen, but contenders for the Presidency saying some of the absolutely ignorant things they do about the military and their mission, it's pretty depressing.

Now, to put it in terms you might understand... imagine you're working at McDonald's, and your manager keeps telling you you're doing a good job....but your check bounces... you wear a blue uniform, but the company headquarters wants you to wear red... a job applicant for company president talks about how unhealthy fast food is...the media constantly talks about how one would have to be a retard to work at McDonald's....

Wouldn't that depress you? If you say "no" you're either a liar or mentally deficient.

Oh, but you say you support the troops? If you can't remember the last time you broke bread with someone in uniform, you do not support the troops, you don't even know who they are.

Answer 3

How would anyone feel being put in a country that hates you, then do things that are causing that hate, while being so far removed from family and friends? I know I'd be in a major funk. I'd be counting it down to the second to the day I can leave. Then some jackass of a president decides to lengthen your stay and there you are, back at square one. The only saving grace is I have everyone else that I am working with as my support group. The problem is, that support group is feeling just like me -- ready to ring the leaderships neck that is screwing with our lives with no clear objective or goal and not getting a goddamned thing done. All while it looks increasingly like we are fighting a war for the rich and privileged so they can make more money off our backs.

Yes there are bound to be suicides. Some can handle it better then others.

Peace

Jim

.

Answer 4

Thank you Hammerman. Many people cannot handle the truth and run and hide from it or just give it a thumbs down.

You would be messed-up too if you were treated like a piece of meat. The answer is in the question: multiple deployments; horrible treatment of injured and returning troops; spouses that are stretched to the limit; troops who see the utter meaninglessness of the horror; VA benefit delays which cause vets to languish and some lose everything; inadequate support from the VA; a limp congress; King George; a retarded Supreme Court; a confused, terrified, and apathetic public; insane war-supporters; the horror itself of KILLING AGAIN AND AGAIN AND WATCHING FELLOW SOLDIERS DIE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

We are insane for allowing this nonsense to continue!!
Where are the men?
We do not deserve to be in space because we'll end up screwing that up too...we act worse than children...no wonder teenagers and younger are misbehaving terribly lately--look at the adults!

God, is creating us your one big mistake?

Answer 5

Interesting, the highest in 26 years! That would have made it 1981 when the suicide rate was higher.
January 20th of that year was the year Ronald Reagan succeeded Jimmy Carter. The hostages had just been released from Iran.
In Geneva, representatives from the United States and the Soviet Union negotiated intermediate-range nuclear weapon reductions in Europe.
Interesting!

Answer 6

Check the stats of Suicide through out the US and not only one area. it is because of changing times are stressful for everyone. The soldiers (being a Vet) hear daily the BS that is being said about them by the Anti-War community and that ways a big part on the psychology of these soldiers. and the stress of their job is just too much for some of them to handle.

Answer 7

The percentage of suicides is very very small. I saw a lot of that in Hawaii two years before the war started. Almost all of it was because of homesickness. And Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Homesickness is a terrible ailment.
I went through the thickest of war in the front-line infantry. In seven and a half years, I never had a three day pass.
We lost thousands per day, not two or three. Were we that tough, or are the guys that soft now ?

Answer 8

Most of the troops support the war. A suicide rate is high in basic training not just Iraq. I saw 3 guys cut there wrists when I was in San Diego

Answer 9

How many people who are NOT in the military commit suicide? If you are constantly under the stress of war, watching friends get killed and being unable to do much to stop it, would you wonder when it was your turn? No, you wouldn't because you would never be in that situation, you'd let someone else go.

Answer 10

There were more in the first Gulf War. War does that to people. They see how fragile life is and the stress of being involved with it can take a toll on many people. It is certainly not a reliable indicator of their dissatisfaction with the policy of the government. Perhaps the negative press has take a toll on many of them.