What is the comparative non-military suicide rate amongst Americans?

This says suicode amongst soldiers was 101 last year. It does not say 101 suicides amongst soldiers that have seen combat, although that may be the case. It does not say.

I believe we had between 500,000 and 1,000,0000 active soldiers throughout 2006. If we use the smaller number, it would give us a maximum percentage of 0.0202% (0.0101% for the larger number). How does that compare to all American citizens? Did we have less more than 61,000 American suicides in 2006? If so, then the soldiers are doing better than the rest of us. If not, than they are doing worse.

"It is clear, then, that the longer we keep troops in Iraq, the more of them we are leading on the path to taking their own lives. They might commit suicide in the field, right after they come home, or years after. But it is clear that the longer the U.S. stays in Iraq, the more heroes will feel such mental anguish that there seems to be no way out other than taking a gun to their own heads."

This may be true. Or it may be an irresponsible statement. It is NOT clear based upon the data that you provided in your article. But complete data can make this conclusion clear, or it can make this conclusion false.

As for mental health care for soldiers, we have had this discussion before. Making it available and private is excellent. Making it mandatory can be bad. Mental health professionals can help make the sick well. But they can also make the well sick.

It's sad, stats or no stats. I am thinking at least at one time these soldiers believed in our country.

But feeling like nobody gives a shit when you get back, that has got to be the worst.

The soldiers can speak for themselves. They do not need you or me or anyone else to tell them how they feel, to state that they no longer believe in their country and feel like nobody gives a shit about them.

Every American soldier in Iraq today chose to be there. Enough time has elapsed since the invasion so that those who were not happy with their duty could have chosen not to re-enlist. I do not want to speak for them either. But I suppose that almost all of them would tell you that they are doing what they have chosen to do and do not need you to tell them how they should feel about it.

Why do so many people want to speak for the soldiers? Do we think that they are stupid?

And I am certain that they, just like everyone else, do not want a shrink forced upon them after they retire from the force. What say we let them make that decision.

OK, please explain to me, what your trying to get at ? Obviously, the troops are under a lot of stress, It can cause mental problems,, when they return. Now, once again, please tell us what we should do about these reports of suicide rate ? My opinion, your trying to stir the pot, once more.The mental health of any individual, should be judged on case by case basis. In wartime, a casualty ,whether suicide or not takes its toll on all Americans. All we can do as a nation is improve the benefits and treatment for all our Veterans. However, treatment of mental health, is an imperfect science. Here's hoping, that next weeks article will be something positive, about our troops....HUMOR ME...

I am trying to keep mental health treatment from being forced on veterans.

I am trying to get people to stop speaking for the veterans in a slanted effort to push their political agenda.

Who are you (or I) to insist that this group of people who have been through preset experiences are required to receive mental health treatment. Maybe some day someone will approach you and determine that your past level of stress has exceeded a preset limit and schedule you for mandatory mental health treatment.

Perhaps the suicide rate among Americans should make mental health treatment mandatory for all Americans.

Leave the veterans alone. They can determine what they need. We are not smarter than them and they do not need us to decide what is best for them.

Stick that in your pot and stir it.

Are you humored?

Todd L , My reply had nothing to do with your post. I think, were on the same page. I was downplaying the suicide statement , and also questioning her(MS.Colgan) motives, for this report ! I never insinuated,any such mental health treatment, be forced on anyone. Especially when it relates to veterans !

I am sorry Pat. Please forgive me.

Flavia. Are you suggesting that veterans should have to go through mandatory mental health screening upon their return and forced to undergo treatment if the results of the screening suggest that they need treatment?

If that is what this bill requires, then it should not be stuck in the morass of Washington. It should be burned.

Now, a bill that ensures that every returning veteran has access to free mental health care SHOULD THEY WISH TO UNDERGO THIS TREATMENT is something that should be passed. But I believe this is already in place. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Todd they do have it. The problem is that the troops are given this questionnaire right before going home. If they answer "yes" to certain questions, then they must stay until they have received treatment, keeping them away from loved ones. (FRONTLINE, A HERO's HEART, PBS). I suggest you watch this video. It is shown to Family Readiness Officers, of which I am one and Key Volunteers. It is very moving and very true. Flavia is right. BTW, Flavia writes about these things because she genuinely cares.

She and I have been pen pals for a while now. I can tell you that the military is a skeptical bunch in regards to the media and especially the political media. However. A BIG however, she has shown time and time again that her concern is genuine and that she is just "good people".

So take my words for what they are worth. Lets look at the process of the whens and wheres fo how we diagnose things, and come up with a better solution. Like a business model, it will positively effect our bottom line having healthy troops.

Sincerely,

JDNLA

Hello JD. I am not surprised that you tell me that Ms. Flavia is good people. I never doubted that.

Now, what are you suggesting? I am focused on this bill. Forget hidden agendas. Does this bill make screening and treatment mandatory for vets? If so, I will fight it with everything I have. Why? Because I know first hand what can happen when you expose someone who is well to mental treatment. It damages them.

You and your friend care about the vets. What you are proposing, if it invokes mandatory treatment, will hurt more vets than it will help. It will also eliminate their right to choose treatment. So, if you care about them, and this bill is what I think it is (no one has said different), then kill it.

Perhaps you touched upon the answer. Allow them home regardless of how they answer the questionnaire with treatment to follow IF THEY CHOOSE TO RECEIVE IT.

Available treatment without penalty? Absolutely. Mandatory treatment? Never.

Mandatory treatment? Yikes! I'm not a doctor so I cannot tell you what the implications are for mandatory anything. I haven't seen the bill. (I want to see it, can anyone tell me where to find it?) What I do know is that suicide rates are up. Stress is up, and I am for a measured, common sense approach to fixing the problem. I like your recommendation Todd. I think with education, and a logical method of identifying people in need, we can help the troops better. But something is not working right now. I really do appreciate your insights Todd and as always, enjoy the conversations here.

Men and women being deployed into cephalic combative techniques are quite bewildering. Death comes to those who have been cursed with the blessing of the end perpetrating this fate. Some have been lucky enough to survival and continue to receive treatment
through medical facilities in order to heal. Those badly wounded with the loss of limbs have nothing left but stories of combat and their families to guide their path. Let alone the petty settlement check from the US government to aid in their succession throughout the next phase of life. What can be done is unknown to the public unless they rationalize the regime and determine the outcome with more protection such as support by any means necessary. The government also must play an integral role in deciding whether these combat wounded veterans receive benefits for their families and themselves for the service that they have provided for the nation's protection here and overseas. What these vets should also realize is their growing interest in what is moral and vindictively reticent when justifying the fight.