Attempted suicides by Marines at record high

If prevention programs were working, there wouldn't be a rise in attempts. The good news is that someone or something caused them to still be here. Was it a buddy? Was it a family member? Was it divine intervention? We may never know but these attempts send a clear message that what is being done is not good enough.

MILITARY: Two Marine Corps suicides reported in September

By MARK WALKER
Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The Marine Corps' latest report on suicides says two of its active-duty troops took their own lives in September, raising the total for the year to 26.

The report indicates that by year's end, the number of Marine Corps suicides will decline for the second consecutive year following a record number in 2009.

Twelve attempted suicides were reported in September, raising that number for 2011 to 144, according to the latest update provided by the Marine and Family Programs' Suicide Prevention Program.

Marine Corps officials says they are in the midst of a detailed study to learn what each Marine who committed suicide was doing in the 72 hours before his death. All of the suicides this year have been among male troops, most of whom, 21, were Caucasian.

Twenty-one of the year's suicides were committed by Marines ages 21 to 25, the age group that makes up the bulk of the roughly 202,000 men and women in the Marine Corps.

This year's suicides compare to last year's 37, which was down from the record 52 recorded among active-duty Marines in 2009.

The rate of attempts, however, is on a pace that if it continues would see the year end with the highest number of attempts, at around 180. That would surpass the 172 attempts recorded in 2010.read more here