Marines report 2 suicides and 15 attempted for August

Since 2003 when the DOD began to address suicides and stress along with the steps taken with the Suicide Prevention Hotline, we are left with attempted suicides still high. While there is still a chance to save their lives, the number of successful suicides proves what they have been doing has not been working.

MILITARY: Two Marine Corps suicides recorded in August
By MARK WALKER
Posted: Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Two U.S. Marines killed themselves in August, raising the service's number of suicides for the year to 23.

An additional 15 Marines attempted suicide last month, according to the latest report from the Marine Corps' Suicide Prevention Program, bringing the number of attempts for the year to 125.

If that pace continues, the Marine Corps would record roughly 185 suicide attempts in 2011, surpassing the 172 attempted suicides reported last year, the highest such figure the service has ever recorded.

On Friday, the House Armed Services Committee is conducting a hearing on Capitol Hill on the status of suicide prevention programs in the military.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Robert Milstead Jr., deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs, is among the witnesses scheduled to testify before the panel that includes Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon.

The 23 Marine suicides so far this year and 37 reported in 2010 are lower than the record 52 the service recorded in 2009.
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