The suicide rate among serving US troops has risen by a record 30% thisyear compared to last year. Top officials are concerned about the risingsuicide rate among soldiers.
Talking to News agency Associated Press, Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue sayshe is unable to determine the motive for the suicides. In July, however,division officials said elements such as troop deployments, isolation andthe coronavirus were playing a key role in suicides.
Suicide is a long-standing problem in the US military.
Reports suggest that the rate of suicide among the U.S. military is roughlyin lockstep when compared to the American population. Suicide is mostprevalent among service members in the male enlisted ranks under the age of30 regardless of component. The primary method is by firearm.
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Nearly 30 percent of the military spouses who took their own lives weremale, and a little more than nine percent were female, the data shows.
Current suicide prevention initiatives across the armed services broadlyfocus on addressing stress factors at multiple social levels whileencouraging open dialogue about personal issues and resiliency. Educatingboth U.S. forces and their families on mental health programs andbehavioral risk factors is a key element in suicide prevention.
