US military suicides surge to record high

Author: headline

The suicide rate among serving US troops has risen by a record 30% this year compared to last year. Top officials are concerned about the rising suicide rate among soldiers.

Talking to News agency Associated Press, Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue says he is unable to determine the motive for the suicides. In July, however, division officials said elements such as troop deployments, isolation and the coronavirus were playing a key role in suicides.

Suicide is a long-standing problem in the US military.

Reports suggest that the rate of suicide among the U.S. military is roughly in lockstep when compared to the American population. Suicide is most prevalent among service members in the male enlisted ranks under the age of 30 regardless of component. The primary method is by firearm.

Nearly 30 percent of the military spouses who took their own lives were male, and a little more than nine percent were female, the data shows.

Current suicide prevention initiatives across the armed services broadly focus on addressing stress factors at multiple social levels while encouraging open dialogue about personal issues and resiliency. Educating both U.S. forces and their families on mental health programs and behavioral risk factors is a key element in suicide prevention.

U.S. officials say they are now considering reducing troop deployments in war-torn areas as well as taking more care of their health. Similarly, advanced technology will be used to locate depressed soldiers.

U.S. officials did not say the total number of suicides this year, but about 100 Air Force personnel have committed suicide since March alone. In the year 2118, about 541 soldiers took their own lives.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Pakistan

LHC seeks details of Punjab cabinet’s decision about wheat procurement Continued from Page A1

He further submitted that the Punjab government had not only raised the prices of bags…

45 mins ago
  • Pakistan

68,800 Pakistanis to perform hajj this year: Secretary

Federal Secretary for Religious Affairs, Dr. Ataur Rehman has said that around 68,800 Pakistani pilgrims…

45 mins ago
  • Pakistan

SECP signs MoU to expand its financial literacy initiative to Balochistan

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has said that equitable access to quality…

46 mins ago
  • Pakistan

West Indies Women win third T20I by 2 runs to take unassailable 3-0 lead

Haylee Matthews's all-round performance helped West Indies Women beat Pakistan in the third T20I by…

46 mins ago
  • Pakistan

Kashmir and Palestine: Occupiers using fake news to de-legitimize freedom struggles: Pakistan

Citing Kashmir and Palestine, Pakistan has told a key UN committee that States were resorting…

52 mins ago
  • Pakistan

Empowering women imperative for economic uplift

The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) underscored the critical importance of fostering…

53 mins ago