A Third of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans thought of committing suicide

Frankly I am appalled! How can the national news stations pay no attention to any of this when they are on the air 24-7 and manage to cover other stories all the time?

Newest veterans say suicide is their biggest challenge
USA Today
Gregg Zoroya
July 30, 2013

The nation's newest combat veterans -- those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan -- say the biggest challenge facing their generation is suicide, according to a survey by the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

About 3,000 active-duty troops have killed themselves since 2001. The annual tally of these deaths climbs each year. And those numbers often don't include servicemembers who are part of the National Guard or Reserve.

Moreover, the Department of Veterans Affairs has uncovered evidence that this self-destructive trend is following many young veterans after they leave the service, adding to an estimated tally of some 22 suicides per day among veterans of all ages.

"The fact that so many of our members know someone that has tried to commit suicide or that had mental health issues really underscores the seriousness of this problem," says Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer for the association.

The survey by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America were based on about 4,000 veterans who responded to a survey the association sent to its 120,000 members in February.

About a third of respondents said they had considered taking their own life at some point. A slightly larger percentage said they knew someone who had committed suicide. Forty-five percent say they know an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran who has attempted suicide. Two-thirds say they have veteran friends who need mental health counseling.
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