National Guard Suicides Double in 2010

Hey, General Peter Chiarelli, the suicides must some of that ‘risky behavior‘ done in blatant violation of existing Army policies and standards, you dolt! You ever wish the DoD had listened to Steve Robinson when he told the crats, “The harder and uglier the war is, the more the psychological toll is on the human mind?”

Today, General Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, announced that suicides in the Army National Guard more than doubled, as the active duty suicide rate fell slightly.  In 2010, there were 301 potential suicides among active duty and reserve component soldiers compared to 242 in 2009.   The Army’s numbers are alarming, but the Marine Corps offered some positive news.  Suicide attempts among Marines continued to rise with a total of [only] 173 in 2010; however, the branch reported its lowest suicide total since 2008 and a 29 percent reduction in suicides year-over-year.  While this reflects positive prevention efforts, the overall situation for troops and new veterans remains unacceptable.  One suicide attempt is one too many.  

By Bryan Maxwell at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)

Aside from its annual assessment, the Army also released suicide totals for the month of December today – providing a breakdown between active duty and reserve trends. Among active duty service members, there were 11 potential suicides with one confirmed.  Among the non-activated reserve component, there were 16 potential suicides with zero confirmed. After investigation, the Army also confirmed 3 suicides among active duty service and reserve members from November with 16 cases still under investigation.

“I had this conversation with a guy in the [Bush] White House, the liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs. This was during the Bush Administration. He said, if we were to keep every promise that we made to the veterans, it would bankrupt us as a nation.”
– Veterans’ advocate, Steve Robinson, who has challenged the President and the Defense establishment face-to-face on their shameful neglect of the health problems, especially mental-health issues, faced by returning Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans

In a Pentagon press conference, General Chiarelli said the Army attributes the slight dip in active duty suicides in 2010 to Army programs including the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness test. Reflecting on the rise in National Guard suicides, he clarified that it is much harder for DoD officials to reach the reserve component not on active duty. These service members are more geographically dispersed, removed from the support network provided by military installations, and lack daily camaraderie of other soldiers and the oversight of officers who are familiar with the risk factors associated with suicide attempts. He said reserve component soldiers are also more affected by the adverse economic environment.

Some of General Chiarelli’s recommendations to address the high suicide rate in the reserve component include: mitigating their economic stress, educating about use and overuse of prescription drugs, and enhancing access to quality health care.  He also encouraged community organizations to get involved.

The significant rise in the suicide rate for the reserve component and the still alarmingly high rate among active duty soldiers requires immediate attention from the Administration.  In 2011, Congress and the Department of Defense (DoD) must make ending this suicide epidemic their top priority.  Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Gates announced that DoD plans to use funds left over from budget cuts to improve suicide prevention and substance abuse counseling for soldiers.  This is a step in the right direction, but more must be done to address the epidemic.  

As General Chiarelli emphasized, the military is facing a serious shortage of military mental health professionals coupled by a heavy stigma associated with service members seeking care.  As a result, service members most at risk of suicide are slipping through the cracks and not getting the care they need.  IAVA recommends that the DoD launch a national campaign to combat the stigma of seeking help for combat stress injuries and to promote the use of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and DoD services such as Vet Centers and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This effort must be complemented by a presidential call to action for a dramatic increase in the number of new mental health professionals to provide care and develop new screening and treatment tools.

In his remarks today, General Chiarelli also associated the high suicide rates with the adverse economic environment facing National Guardsmen and Reservists – many of who have to leave behind full-time jobs in the civilian workforce when they deploy.  To combat the challenges associated with unemployment, IAVA recommends Congress and the Administration work together to pass a comprehensive veterans’ job package that will strengthen USERRA job protections, modernize employment-transitioning services and develop tax incentives for hiring veterans.

As we start the New Year, IAVA looks forward to working with Congress, the Administration and the veterans’ community as well as private and nonprofit partners across the country to expand outreach and mental health and employment resources to help service members—be they active duty or reserve component—transition home.  Our troops, veterans and their families deserve nothing less than our full commitment to end this epidemic.

To learn more about psychological and neurological injuries, please see the IAVA Issue Reports: “Invisible Wounds: Psychological and Neurological Injuries Confront a New Generation of Veterans” and “Women Warriors: Supporting She ‘Who Has Borne the Battle.” See also PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within,  Nam Guardian Angel PTSD Shield, Relieving Stress
and the Post’s PTSD Primer.

Bryan Maxwell is IAVA’s Research Assistant in Washington, D.C. where he contributes to IAVA’s Issue Reports. Bryan received a B.A. in History from University of Virginia in 2004 and also serves as an officer in the Army Reserves.