Military Suicide and Crisis Care: Warning Signs

U.S. military are four times more likely to die by suicide than in combat. The suicide rates among the United States public have been increasing for the past 20 years, but among active military personnel and veterans of the post-9/11 wars, the suicide rate is even higher, outpacing average Americans. Reports show 30,177 active –duty personnel and veterans of post 9/11 wars have died by suicide, significantly more than the 7,057 service members killed in post 9/11 war operations.

What is the reason for this? This is not a simple question. There are many different reasons. Experiences and circumstances vary greatly, but some risk factors are well known. For example:

Access to Firearms, About 65% of active military suicides involve a firearm. Among the veterans, the rate is even higher: almost 70%. By contrast, firearms account for death in 48% of suicides in the general population.

Military Culture, is rigid, hierarchical, and demanding. It discourages reflection, abhors weakness, stigmatizes mental illness, and fetishizes toughness and aggression. Fearing that mental health difficulties will go on their record or undermine their peer reputation, many soldiers avoid or forego treatment. Untreated trauma and mental health problems tend to get worse.

PTSD, trauma and Moral Injury, experiences are predictors of suicide, both in and outside the military. In the military there is trauma related to sexual abuse that affects over 23% of the woman in the military.

Reintegration into civilian society, Leaving the service for civilian life is akin to immigrating to a new land. Your previous identity, language, habits, and history become largely irrelevant. You must start over, learn a new culture, establish a new identity and community. A great deal of culture shock comes from the swift transition from high operational tempo and little sleep to a significant amount of unfilled time.

File Photo

Lack of popular support. Recent wars from Vietnam have not enjoyed wall-to-wall popular support. For example, the veterans returning from Vietnam were spit on and cursed. They were then told to come home in civilian clothes. They were also called child killers. With the other wars, the enemy generally wore a uniform and did not include women and children fighting in the war. Thus our troops felt more trauma.

Help is available. The Veterans Affairs have a 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, text 838255 or visit VeteranCrisisline.net.

In addition the various veteran organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and AmVets are available with veterans that have gone through the problems that new veterans are facing and are there to help the new veterans make it through. Peer-to-peer truly can be a great help. In addition these posts also have access to the benefits available to veterans.