Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Which Way, L.A.?

    Which Way, L.A.?

    Military Suicides on the Rise

    Suicides among America's active soldiers and veterans are outpacing combat casualties -- and the numbers are increasing — even as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are winding down. Last week, the Associated Press reported some daunting statistics : 154 suicides in 155 days among American troops on active duty.

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Suicides among America's active soldiers and veterans are outpacing combat casualties -- and the numbers are increasing — even as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are winding down. Last week, the Associated Press reported some daunting statistics: 154 suicides in 155 days among American troops on active duty. The Department of Veterans Affairs says veterans are killing themselves at an average rate of 18 a day. The total deaths from suicide far exceed combat casualties in the past ten years of war. We hear how family survivors, the Pentagon and others are searching 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

    taps.org

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    The Los Angeles Kings Win the Stanley Cup
    1. 0:00Los Angeles: the New Capital of North American Hockey
    2. 16:58Orange County Register Is Sold to the 2100 Trust
    3. 25:18Military Suicides on the RiseYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Caitlin Shamberg

      KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Yochi Dreazen

      Foreign editor for Vox

    • KCRW placeholder

      Kim Ruocco

      Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

    • KCRW placeholder

      David Rudd

      National Center for Veterans Studies

      News

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    The Los Angeles Kings Win the Stanley Cup
    1. 0:00Los Angeles: the New Capital of North American Hockey
    2. 16:58Orange County Register Is Sold to the 2100 Trust
    3. 25:18Military Suicides on the RiseYou’re reading this
    Back to Which Way, L.A.?