If so many have come home from Iraq and couldn't live with what they saw?

Question

that sucide among returning soldiers is in epidemic porportions. Doesn't that say something about their society as a whole?

Answer 1

I would love to know just how high that suicide rate is. Because i saw a story today that said no one had those figures. So how is this epidemic proportions.

And which society are you talking about? The Iraqis? Or our Military?

War is hell and those young men and women see things that you can't imagine. The goriest Horror movie cannot capture the horror of war.

Answer 2

You figures for this epidemic of suicides? Been through this before and none of the figures show any huge increase in suicides; some have pointed to suicide rates among troops and the general population and it is much different but compared to the same age group of civilian and pre Iraq and current among the military very small increases. Could be some are being driven over the edge by people calling them names, not letting them finish a job they feel is necessary (frustration), spouses running around while they were gone. But the bottom line there has been a slight increase in suicides among the military but not an epidemic and not all have been because they couldn't live with what they saw. What is the 'their society as a whole?" who's society-the military's or the country's? You want to learn about the military society you won't do it sitting where you're at-join and learn.

Answer 3

Yes, there are many soldiers that have problems with PTSD. But not all suicides of soldiers are due to PTSD. There are more suicide among soldiers due to domestic issues than PTSD.
Anyone who has been around the military know that we have an abnormally high divorce rate. Add in constant deployments and thing get worse. Soldiers end up coming how to divorce papers and a man in their house. Sometimes they dont even get that, they have them mailed to them while in Iraq.
The truth is, most of the people that even claim PTSD only do so when they are about to get deployed again (so they can try to get out of being deployed) or just claim to have PTSD, basically for attention. It is a sad fact, but it is true.
Some soldiers sit on a FOB all day, and come home without ever being in harms way, then claim PTSD 6 months later.

Im not saying that there nobody suffers from actual PTSD or that it doesnt produce suicidal thoughs in some. But the number isnt as high as the media portrays.

*NOTE*
In my last unit we had two suicides and five attmpted suicides, only one of the attempted had been deployed, and neither of the two that passed had been deployed.

Answer 4

I'm so glad you don't work in any position of authority in public health. Because you don't have the foggiest idea of the meaning of the word "epidemic". The reports on veterans' suicides pre-supposes that all of them returned from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, there is no empirical data to back up that contention. Most never saw overseas duty period and were afflicted with mental health problems which pre-dated their entry into the service.
Given that most members of the media couldn't distinguish a discharge certificate from a gift certificate, I'll await some empirical data to see if there is anything to be really concerned about.

Answer 5

Suicide among suicide bombers is 100%. Compare that to our soldiers who for the most part want to live and its not so bad. Still horrible, but not as bad. At least they aren't taking the lives of little children and bystanders along with them.

Military life is so vastly different from civilian life, you have no idea until you visit a military base. I think it says more about what kind of folks we are recruiting though. Think about it, most guys in Iraq would just assume be killed by the enemy before taking their own life. What a waste! These are people who apparently could not foresee any future for themselves when they signed up and probably needed mental help instead of deployment.

Answer 6

Whose society? Yes, it says that we use our soldiers as tools in a sensless war and then abandon them. How many Vietnam vets do you see on the streets these days? I see them everyday, missing limbs...it's a mess. Our government used them for war and dumped them, just like their doing to our soldiers in Iraq, but no one wants to believe it. The smart ones are the ones that kill themselves, and yes, it certainly does say a lot about our society and the ends we will go to to exploit other cultures so we can continue to drive around in our gas guzzling SUV's and shop 'til we drop. Get it?

Answer 7

Maybe the things they saw was not like anything they ever saw before and it haunted them until they would rather die then to keep thinking about it.
Who knows what they went through over there that has caused so many breakdowns. doesn't anyone read the news? I saw that on the CBS news tonight.
Sucide rates among the military is epedimeic porportions
that is what it said.

Answer 8

pass over, i don't love it. i'm white and ex-army. You served, consequently you're my little sister (extremely than Sista). in my view, i might have some decision words with the guy in Walmart in my suited chief Petty Officer instructor voice... i might basically solid an evil, pointed glare at your female neighbor... my mom might smack me from the grave if I cursed out a female. won't be able to make an apology for the total white race, yet... will say Welcome homestead & thank you to your provider.

Answer 9

It's true, and also very sad. I am a disabled Navy vet. Lost my hearing. You would be surprised to see what I have seen at the VA hospital.

We need to find a way to make sure ALL returning troops get the help they need... and I'm not just talking physically. We need more mental health specialists to help.

Answer 10

Whose society? American society or the military culture? I think it says more about the nature of the war than anything.