According to a Pentagon statement, due to the stress from the longer-than-expected war in Iraq and Afghanistan and mainly the longtime and multiple deployments away from home, exposure to really terrifying realities of war the US Army is facing the surge in suicides.

Particular sorrow statistics were aired by Colonel Elspeth Ritchie, Psychiatry Consultant to the US Army Surgeon General. According to her, 2007 witnessed the highest record of suicides in the US Army in the observed history – 115 (versus 102 in 2006, 85 in 2005, 67 in 2004, 102 in 1991 and 102 in 1990). In general, the rate of suicides per 100,000 active duty soldiers including reservists and national guards in 2007 was 18.8 (versus 17.5 in 2006 and 9.8 in 2002) while the rate of suicides per 100,000 civilians was 11 in 2004 (the last year of statistic record) according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that would be equal to 19.5 in 2007 (military expert estimates) in terms of comparable demographic measures.

The number of those who tried to commit suicide is much bigger – 935 including 166 in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The analysis of these sorrow statistics shows that of 115 persons who killed themselves 93 (81%) were professional soldiers and 22 ((19%) - servicemen of the National Guard and Reserve. Five women committed suicide (4.3%). The highest rate of suicides is observed among single white enlisted men. 32 servicemen committed suicide while deployed in the Middle East (less than 30% of the total number) in so doing, about 25% of the suicides took place in the American troops in Iraq. A majority of soldiers who killed themselves used fire arms to this end but the most popular method of attempted suicides is overdosage of medicines and venesection. 30% of suicides were observed against the background of alcohol or drug intoxication (this percentage increased as failed suicides are added). A majority of servicemen who killed themselves had no records in their medical files on any mental or nervous disorders. 6% of confirmed suicides and 8 % of attempted suicides were recorded among the servicemen with PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). 50% of servicemen who committed suicide, separated with their sponges or girlfriends on the eve of the attempt. 7% of those who committed suicide or attempted to commit suicide were repeatedly deployed in the zones of combat operations, in so doing, a majority of attempts took place in the second half of the dour of duty. 26% were never involved in combat operations.

It is noteworthy that the upward trend of suicides in the Army is also observed in 2008. The death toll is increasing. For example, as of May 26, 38 officially confirmed suicides were recorded. Besides, 12 cases are under investigation.

Evidently that the US Department of Defense and Armed Forces Command concerned with the developments make efforts to address the problem. The staff of mental specialists, psychologists and other respective specialists has been increased by 300 positions (currently 180 positions). In 2007, within the framework of the suicide prevention campaign 900,000 American officers and enlisted men were trained on identification of mental disorder primary symptoms.

A number of programmes is implemented (including The Strong Family Tie (aimed at improvement of family relationship, conducted by chaplains (military priests), The Combat Mind (aimed at familiarization of servicemen and their dependencies with particular features of a future tour of duty in the zone of combat activities, and at overcoming the difficulties that may occur after the return home).

However…

…The US Army is an only armed service that annually publishes statistics on suicides and summaries of the reports prepared on the basis of personnel surveys on mental problems. It means that the US public does not know the entire truth about the actual situation.

…A study conducted by American scientists in 2007 showed that the rate of suicides among the US veterans is twofold higher than that among the civilians who never wore military uniforms. This conclusion has been made on the basis on the study of 320,000 biographies. 75% of these men served with the armed forces in the period from 1917 to 1994. The rate of suicides among the former militaries was 2.13 times higher than that among their civil counterparts. At the same time the risk of death due to a disease, accident and criminal attack among the retired militaries was not higher than the average statistical one. The authors of the study explain the higher rate of suicides among the veterans by the stress they have got during their tour of duty (a majority of them was involved in combat operations).

…And the most important. The White House is going to fight until “the final victory”, it means that the list of killed in action will be added with names of those who failed to live down the reminiscences and recollections of war conflicts.