Study Finds No Link Between Military Suicide Rate and Deployments

nytimes ^ | April 1, 2015 | DAVE PHILIPPS

[PROCON]

The largest study to date of a rising suicide rate among military personnel, published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry, found no connection between suicide and deployment overseas in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The findings are the latest in a series of studies prompted by a military suicide rate that has nearly doubled since 2005. The study’s authors and others cautioned, however, that the findings do not rule out combat exposure as a reason for the increase in suicides, adding that more information was needed.

“As the wars went on, the suicide rates also went up and it was very tempting to assume deployments must be the reason,” said the lead author, Mark Reger of the Department of Defense National Center for Telehealth and Technology in Tacoma, Wash. “Our data don’t support that. But there may be important subgroups, including those exposed to combat, that we need to look at further.”

[PROCON]

As a conservative thinker and also a Vietnam Vet, I always take the NYSLIMES with a grain of salt.

My heart goes out to all of our Troops who fought in the "Sandbox".

My guts and experience tell me that all war time Vets experience some sort of war related trauma, I guess some are stronger psychologically than others.

I would like to hear the opinions of other War Vets and FReepers.

[lee martell]

Of course there is a link. This must have been assembled by someone who doesn’t believe we even need a military, let alone, start showing compassion to the enlisted men.

[PROCON]

Ping.

[TYVets]

Any "Study" published by the New York Times has to have a very low accuracy rating. 20%?

Studies of US Military Personnel serving under this CINC and other presidents would be interesting.

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty ping.

[PROCON]

Ping

[ConorMacNessa]

"Peace is Hell?"

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[TurboZamboni]

I’m guessing the same people would also find no link between multiple deployments and divorce rates, either.

[JRandomFreeper]

I don't trust the Slimes any further than I can throw their building.

God bless our vets. I was at a VA today, and you can bet I didn't get all judgemental about those guys. Every story is different, and I don't know enough to be judgemental. I ain't God.

Above my pay-grade.

/johnny

[demshateGod]

Study shows that we can prove anything with studies.

[Jeff Chandler]

Actually this JAMA study being published in the NYTimes is good news, good news for the men and women of our armed forces, and good news because it goes AGAINST the leftist/NYTimes narrative that military men are damaged goods.

[familyop]

A very small percentage of all members of the military actually do routine combat patrols in enemy areas (advance/flank and beyond) or are even trained much to do so. Enlisted rank infantry and infantry-attached men have much higher suicide rates during their more difficult initial training (total control for the duration of initial training, necessarily more physical training, mental training, etc.), more difficult efforts in the civilian world afterwards, trying to get and keep civilian jobs in a social environment of prevailing social attitudes against men, more difficult times with girlfriends/spouses (previous absences allowing other relationships, social, economic,...) and so on.

[maine-iac7]

”found no connection between suicide and deployment overseas in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...... “As the wars went on, the suicide rates also went up and it was very tempting to assume deployments must be the reason,..."

Psychiatrists are crazy

How about doing a study on the increase of suicides after they got a new CIC - who immediately imposed the murderous and traitorous ROE - that resulted in our troops KIA doubleling then TRIPLING in combat as a direct result...and many instances where he turned on our troops and it became evident that he was on the other side....

And how about a study on the abandonment of our vets when they came home - of not being able to get either medical help or their pensions or disability hearings - leaving them jobless, homeless -

I SPIT on the traitor in DC

[ConorMacNessa]

Please excuse my feeble attempt at levity. I am all too familiar with the cost paid by our returning combat veterans.

Some never come back - KIA.

Some never come back - WIA.

I had a motto on my helmet cover - "For those who have fought for it - Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

I believe in my heart this is true. The men and women I encounter now in my daily life have no concept of what combat is or how it affects those who have been there.

They all say that War is cruel, evil, etc. But they this without knowing the enormity of human suffering occasioned in War.

Yes it is cruel. Yes it is evil. The consequence of War is the massive killing of men, women and children, many of whom have done no wrong to anyone.

But far worse than this is the fleeting peace that is gained by failing to fight fiercely against the likes of a Hitler or other megalomaniac when first he emerges.

We have seen the wages of appeasement before, and we see them now in the feckless dithering of the Obama Regime.

Our children will pay the price.

I guess I've gone a little far afield from the actual topic of this thread. The returning combat Vet has been an object variously of disdain, fear, and patronization since long before I returned home from the Vietnam War. The "experts" on the sidelines will continue to categorize those of us who have been there from now until the end of Time.

But when the next band of villains comes after them - as it comes now - on whom will they call to defend them from sword, bullet and bomb?

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[PROCON]

Well said Navy Bro, now get your sorry behind to bed :-)

[Deagle]

Sorry, but common sense rules here and the this article is bullshit!

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

In the 60's my drill sergeants told us shoot first and ask questions later. We had a clear enemy, communists. Now we send our youth to war with rules of engagement that make no sense, occupy and rebuild countries filled with people who despise us, and offer no end to the tour of duties we expect. I can see a demoralizing effect here that could take its toll on our youth.

War should be clear and simple. You attack us, and we sink your navy, blast your air power, crush your armor, and then air drop small arms to your dissidents. You can sort out your differences and rebuild your society without us.

[pfflier]

Yours is a voice of reason on this thread. I suspect part of the suicide trend is cultural and not unique to the military. As a society, suicide is portrayed as an acceptable proposition especially for younger people.

I would like to see a study that compares curves between the rate of increase in military suicides as compared to the non-military population. Also, it would be interesting to show suicide rates compared by age groups especially 20 YOs vs say 40 YOs.

[pepsionice]

I think if you isolated the test group of ‘civilians’ to football players (frontline guys) with the military crowd, you might find a direct connection with concussions and suicides. But if you lay the statistical mat down against a normal and regular crowd....I would agree...it probably won’t match up.

[LibertyOh]

“Studies of US Military Personnel serving under this CINC and other presidents would be interesting.”

A closer look at the article reveals that such a study really is warranted. The study was “prompted by a military suicide rate that has nearly doubled since 2005” but then only “analyzed records of 3.9 million military personnel who served from 2001 to 2007....”

The statistics cited in the article don’t show the rate increase during that time frame, only a comparison between those who served in the war zone and those who served elsewhere (”18.86 deaths versus 17.78 deaths per 100,000” - a 6% difference but above the national average of 13 per 100k). It also pointed to a 25% difference between the services that were more directly in combat (Army and Marines) versus more remote (Navy and Air Force - don’t know how they account for SEALs and such).

The aim of the article appears at the end, citing a doubling of the rate for those who left before serving a complete 4 year enlistment, and a tripling for those who left with less than honorable discharge - those for whom health and mental care are not provided. The aim appears to be justifying extension of services, and perhaps mental health services would be justified (though of course Obama would just find this a way to extend everything).

Back to the real news from the article - doubling of the overall military suicide rate since 2005 (while the study only went to 2007). This suggests there may have been some increase as the war went on under Bush, but really took off under Obama. Any wonder - changes in ROE, lack of respect from the CIC with all that has gone on under him. The article was prompted by a doubling since 2005 but focused on the Bush years, apparently in an attempt to, as others have suggested, find those who were exposed to combat are “damaged goods” - which could then be blamed on Bush. The real story is what prompted the initial study - why has the rate doubled since 2005 (which also is into Bush’s second term, when Democrat support had not only waned but become opposition).