Army Explores New Ways to Curb Suicide Rate

Suicides have risen steadily since 2004 amid repeated tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan

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Soldier suicides exceed combat deaths (NBC Nightly News, Feb. 6, 2009) — The fight to save soldiers’ lives has moved away from front lines as a shocking rise in military suicides has prompted U.S. Army officials to step up suicide prevention efforts. NBC’s Ron Mott reports. (02:19)

February 6, 2009

FORT JACKSON, S.C. — To battle a growing suicide rate, the Army may have to start teaching soldiers how to handle stress from the first day they take their entry oath, the service’s top trainer said Friday.

“The new idea I suppose I would offer is getting at it right from the beginning of the career,” said Gen. Martin Dempsey, the new four-star commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, which operates 33 schools and training centers at 16 Army installations.

Dempsey, who led soldiers during two combat tours in Iraq, was questioned about the issue after addressing 1,150 soldiers who graduated from basic training at Fort Jackson, the Army’s largest training installation.

According to figures obtained by The Associated Press, there were seven confirmed suicides last month, compared with five a year earlier. An additional 17 cases from January are under investigation. …

Dempsey said the issue was vital to an Army that has been at war for seven years and may well be at war for several more. …

The general said the Army is working with the Department of Defense on new approaches, and he hoped some action might be taken “within the next year.” …

Suicides have risen steadily since 2004 amid increasing stress on the force from long and repeated tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. …

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1/20/11 Update

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Suicide rate doubles for National Guard (NBC Nightly News, Jan. 19, 2011) — Despite new efforts to identify soldiers struggling with physical or emotional problems, the Army said Wednesday that the suicide rate among National Guard troops doubled in 2010. Suicides among active duty personnel declined for the first time in six years. NBC’s Brian Williams reports. (00:37)

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1/12/12 Update

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New initiative combats soldier suicides (NBC News, Jan. 10, 2012) — Service members at Mississippi’s Camp Shelby try an inventive new method to prevent soldier suicides. WDAM-TV’s Ashlea Surles reports. (02:30)

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Related reports on this site

Reported Fragging in Iraq (Sept. 27, 2010)

Heartbreak at Ft. Hood (Nov. 5, 2009)

GI Opens Fire on U.S. Troops in Iraq (May 12, 2009)

Army: Stunning Spike in Suicides (Feb. 6, 2009)

Military Suicides Continue to Rise (Jan. 29, 2009)

Army Issues Statement on Suicides (Jan. 23, 2009)

Military Suicides Probed (Dec. 23, 2008)