OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 6:35 AM PT — Friday, September 27, 2019
The suicide rate for active duty military members has reached a record high, and Pentagon officials are trying to grapple with the tragedies that are ticking upward. That’s according to a recent report from the Defense Department, which revealed suicides have been rising at an average of six-percent annually over the past five years.Most recently, the number of service members who took their own life jumped from 285 to 325 between 2017 and 2018. The Pentagon report applies to service members in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.Military leaders say getting down to the root of the issue is difficult as they struggle to identify members with possible problems since some might be reluctant to seek help for fear it could affect promotions or security clearances.Several months ago, members of Congress talked with specialists about how to deal with issues veterans might grapple with after serving.“Many of them do not use veteran as there primary identity and so, that is why it’s really critically important that we embed these strategies in the U.S. health care system. So that no matter where a veteran goes for care, they will be greeted with a health care professional who’s been appropriately trained, equipped, and incentivized to do the right thing.” — Terri Tanielian, Sr. Behavioral Scientist – Rand CorporationFILE – In this Sept. 6, 2019, file photo, U.S. soldiers survey the the safe zone between Syria and the Turkish border near Tal Abyad, Syria, on a joint patrol with the Tax Abyad Military Council, affiliated with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)Following the new report, however, leaders at the Pentagon worry the military environment invites many stressors that make it sometimes almost impossible to identify root causes.Earlier this year, the president signed an executive order to help curb the suicide rate among veterans. The task force pulls federal governments, local governments and private sector partners together to find solutions to curb the tragedies.“They leave a military life and go to civilian life, and it is different. We must keep our promises to those who keep us free. Through today’s action I am launching the prevent initiative. The president’s road map to empower veterans and end the national tragedy of suicide.” — President TrumpMilitary officials say the number of suicides for the Air Force have slowed down, but they say they are still working on many initiatives such as an interactive education program to help members develop coping skills.
If you or anyone you know may be contemplating suicide please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for help.
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