One of my former students just committed suicide.

[MADem]

35. Well, that's not even slightly true.

I'm well aware of the military suicide issue; DOD has been aggressively tackling this subject for decades, now. It's a statistic that has been tracked for many years. Suicide prevention is a huge part of training for all branches and has been for many years.

My point is that there's been no evidence offered that military service caused his suicide. The assumption is made, rather pompously, and the very assumption reeks of mendacity at worst or unfairness at the very least.

He plainly was in the throes of mental distress; how that manifested itself is a mystery to us. His girlfriend could have dumped him, he may have had a well concealed personality disorder or other mental illness; he could have had personal issues--severe debt, drug addiction, criminal involvement of a dangerous sort-- that impacted his ability to deal honestly and openly with others; we just don't know. To pretend that we DO know--and to high handedly tie it all up in a "suicide because military" bow is foolish and wrong.

Making assumptions is just not "on." THAT is the point I am making.