Military Suicides Soar - Startling Data, Unanswered Questions and Reclaiming American Values
Military suicides soar to an all-time high over the past 30 years say a new study from the U.S. Army Public Health Command detailing the affects on soliders since the start of the Iraq War in 2003.
Data as to why military suicides soar from the Army Behavioral Health Integrated Data Environment, show 'a 80% increase in suicides among Army personnel between 2004 and 2008. The rise parallels increasing rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions in soldiers' (Gann).
Published in the journal Injury Prevention detailing possible factors as to why military suicides soar, it is said about 40% of the Army's suicides in 2008 could be associated with the U.S. military escalation in Iraq (Gann).
The larger unanswered question as to why military suicides soar however is what do soldiers in the military find most demoralizing and traumatizing about their role in combat?
Perpaps therein lies the deeper message and takeaway for politicians and generals alike. The military and leadership throughout the country quite possibly have forgotten what they're fighting for, have lost their moral compass and sometimes are played by politicians and the military-industrial-complex as mercenaries to help monetize larger financial aims and ends (sometimes covertly pursued beyond the eyes of most troops on the front lines clearing the way for business in the name of politics, liberation, democracy and statecraft thereafter).
Reclaiming American values and soldiers lives requires us as a nation to do some soul searching and ask ourselves these hard questions and not merely hide behind notions of patriotism and national service, while they in DC who declare and send our troops to war often serve themselves.
As soldier suicides reach an all-time high, perhaps our national leaders should define and make a fresh commitment to American values so soldiers can know exactly what it is they ae fighting for (certainly not post-war contractors' profiteering, the military-industrial-complex and crooked politicians on the Hill in DC doing insider trading).
National service begins at home to our people, citizens and federally employed members whether they are on payroll with the Pentagon, White House, FBI or CIA.
Some time ago General Chiarelli told ABC News concerning the contributory factors leading to soldier suicide were threefold:
1. Money troubles
2. Substance abuse
3. Failed relationships
The most important relationship soldiers have is first with themselves. PTSD is another reason military suicides soar to new levels, because the imagery of hostility and bloodshed on the battlefield haunt and torment many soldiers.
To make peace with themselves, soldiers must take time to revisit their emotions, probe deeper and talk about their feelings and actions.
http://www.PaulFDvis.com/soldier-suic...
Raised by his retired Army Lt. Colonel grandfather Paul Krofchik, Paul F Davis is a soldier suicide prevention speaker (also the cousin of a retired Army Ranger and Marine).
Paul understands what it means to overcome adversity, live overseas (he having touched 64 countries thus far, traveling to many war-torn, impoverished lands), and have to adapt cross-culturally while living under command.
http://www.PaulFDavis.com/overcoming-...
(info@PaulFDavis.com)
407-967-7553
Gann - source: http://news.yahoo.com/suicides-mental...
Data as to why military suicides soar from the Army Behavioral Health Integrated Data Environment, show 'a 80% increase in suicides among Army personnel between 2004 and 2008. The rise parallels increasing rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions in soldiers' (Gann).
Published in the journal Injury Prevention detailing possible factors as to why military suicides soar, it is said about 40% of the Army's suicides in 2008 could be associated with the U.S. military escalation in Iraq (Gann).
The larger unanswered question as to why military suicides soar however is what do soldiers in the military find most demoralizing and traumatizing about their role in combat?
Perpaps therein lies the deeper message and takeaway for politicians and generals alike. The military and leadership throughout the country quite possibly have forgotten what they're fighting for, have lost their moral compass and sometimes are played by politicians and the military-industrial-complex as mercenaries to help monetize larger financial aims and ends (sometimes covertly pursued beyond the eyes of most troops on the front lines clearing the way for business in the name of politics, liberation, democracy and statecraft thereafter).
Reclaiming American values and soldiers lives requires us as a nation to do some soul searching and ask ourselves these hard questions and not merely hide behind notions of patriotism and national service, while they in DC who declare and send our troops to war often serve themselves.
As soldier suicides reach an all-time high, perhaps our national leaders should define and make a fresh commitment to American values so soldiers can know exactly what it is they ae fighting for (certainly not post-war contractors' profiteering, the military-industrial-complex and crooked politicians on the Hill in DC doing insider trading).
National service begins at home to our people, citizens and federally employed members whether they are on payroll with the Pentagon, White House, FBI or CIA.
Some time ago General Chiarelli told ABC News concerning the contributory factors leading to soldier suicide were threefold:
1. Money troubles
2. Substance abuse
3. Failed relationships
The most important relationship soldiers have is first with themselves. PTSD is another reason military suicides soar to new levels, because the imagery of hostility and bloodshed on the battlefield haunt and torment many soldiers.
To make peace with themselves, soldiers must take time to revisit their emotions, probe deeper and talk about their feelings and actions.
http://www.PaulFDvis.com/soldier-suic...
Raised by his retired Army Lt. Colonel grandfather Paul Krofchik, Paul F Davis is a soldier suicide prevention speaker (also the cousin of a retired Army Ranger and Marine).
Paul understands what it means to overcome adversity, live overseas (he having touched 64 countries thus far, traveling to many war-torn, impoverished lands), and have to adapt cross-culturally while living under command.
http://www.PaulFDavis.com/overcoming-...
(info@PaulFDavis.com)
407-967-7553
Gann - source: http://news.yahoo.com/suicides-mental...
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