Marines, suicide: The numbers

More active-duty Marines committed suicide last year than any year since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, although the suicide rate remained virtually unchanged because the corps is increasing in size, according to a report issued today.

Forty-one Marines are listed as possible or confirmed suicides in 2008, which makes for a rate of 16.8 per 100,000 troops, the report says. The Marine Corps has several anti-suicide programs, beginning in boot camp, to encourage Marines to watch their buddies for signs that they are considering suicide.

In 2007, 33 Marines committed suicide -- a rate of 16.5 per 100,000. The Marine Corps is adding more troops and calling in reservists to fulfill the duties in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as statewide and forward bases.

The 2008 rate remains below that of the U.S. Army (18.1 in 2007) and the civilian population with similar demographics (19.5). Preliminary review shows that 2008 Marine suicides match those of 2007: Nearly all were enlisted Marines under age 24 and about two-thirds had deployed overseas. The Army suicide figures for 2008 have not yet been released. But officials said late last year they expected the number and rate to increase from 2007.

In October, the Army and the National Institute of Mental Health began a five-year, $50-million research program to probe the causes of suicide among troops. Release of the Marine figures comes during a four-day suicide-prevention workshop in San Antonio sponsored by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.

The keynote address was given by Army Maj. Gen. Mark Graham, who lost one son to suicide and another to combat in Iraq. “Both of my sons died fighting different battles,” he said.

-- Tony Perry

Comments

[Welly]

USMC's own suicide data shows 126 reported suicides between 2003 and 2007, and that's only active personnel. Veteran's suffering from PTSD and TBI who aren't getting the help they need; different data from different groups all showing a rising rate of suicide. Pissed off doesn't even come close to describing how I feel about how these young men and women are being treated after serving their country. They survive a war just so they can get the shaft when they get home.

[Mary]

Our marine son courageously fought through both the major battles of Fallujah, led his Humvee squad in road patrolling continuously in the Anbar province, dealt with burying bloated Iraqi corpses found in the desert, and helped free tortured Iraqi hostages from insurgents' strongholds that he fought bravely to help clear. He returned from his second deployment to Iraq markedly, profoundly disturbed. He was deeply depressed and suffering clearly as well from PTSD. His wife left him, saying "this isn't who I married -- I can't handle it..." After his honorable discharge, he switched his active reserves duty to Air Force, in order to insure that he would not be deployed to another heavy combat situation. Three weeks into his training at Shepperd Air Base, we received a phone call, that our fine, precious 24-yr-old son had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
I spoke openly with my son in the weeks preceding his death, about his depression, PTSD, his need for help, my concern for the depth of his depression and exhaustion. He was afraid to get help because if it went onto his medical records, it would affect his future should he decide to go further with the military as a pilot or officer.
Marines' boot camp is particularly harsh (I have a second son in the Marines presently as well), detaching anything tender in the soul of a young person, so that they can be a "mean-green-killing-machine." After convoying out of the war theatre and arriving back on US soil within 48 hours or so, there is no "reverse boot camp" to help restore the soul of that young person and help them live with all they have seen and experienced, and for many of them, the feelings of guilt and shame and remorse by which, rightly or wrongly, they are tormented and haunted. It is time to immediately rethink, replan, and implement the post-combat care that our veterans need and so greatly deserve.
The suicide of any person is a grave tragedy and often causes the family a deep sense of shame. The suicides of our troops are also great tragedies, and we as a nation can only vindicate our shame by insuring that our troops get immediate, first-rate, compassionate, "no-penalty" care as soon as, and following up on, they come out of the theatre.
From one who knows only too painfully, being the mother of a brave marine who lost his interior battle, a suicide doesn't take "just one life." The lives of his family, extended family, and close friends will never, ever be the same. We are like amputees who must learn to accept that a vital part of us is now severed, and we must learn to live, to walk, to work, and to relate in a different way than ever before.
I am very keen to find out, "What can I do to help prevent more suicides, and to help those who are suffering the suicide of their son or daughter, to recover?"

[Kim]

I believe that the marines should be able to decide when they want to stop with their duty. Since all of the pressure they suffer is in resulting of suicides. We don't want to see how our heroes, and brave man take their own life away. I believe that president Obama should bring the troops back home, and to stop deploying more troops. As a family of a marine I know how it hurts to have your love ones far from home.