To the Point
The Suicide Epidemic in America's Armed Forces
Last week, the Associated Press reported some daunting statistics : In the first 155 days of this year, there were 154 suicides among active troops in the US military. Veterans are killing themselves at the rate of one every 80 minutes, for a total greater than the combat deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq combined.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readLast week, the Associated Press reported some daunting statistics: In the first 155 days of this year, there were 154 suicides among active troops in the US military. Veterans are killing themselves at the rate of one every 80 minutes, for a total greater than the combat deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq combined. The Pentagon has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to find out why. Are ten years of multiple deployments taking a tragic toll? Is it the warrior culture? We talk with the widow of a veteran who took his own life and others who are looking for answers.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: offers 24/7 free and confidential, nationwide network of crisis centers. Veterans can press 1 with confidentiality and privacy
800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or www.SuicidePreventionLifeline.org
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors:
800-959-TAPS (800-959-8277) or
