(Army Times) Editorial: Silent epidemic

[unhappycamper]

Silent epidemic

The Army’s suicide toll for January could reach 24 soldiers when all the investigations are completed — the highest monthly total in 30 years.

More soldiers died by their own hand than by the enemy’s.

Suicides are the Army’s silent epidemic, rising from 87 in 2005 to 143 in 2008, pending final determinations.

The Army ordered a two- to four-hour stand-down across the entire force for prevention training after the annual totals for 2008 came out. And leaders seem committed to increasing awareness of the problem and trying to eliminate the stigma associated with asking for help.

These are good steps. But to raise awareness and to eliminate that stigma, the Army will have to break its reflexive instinct to keep such bad news under wraps.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_editorial_silent_030209/%2e



uhc comment: We know Peake was hiding the numbers. Here's an old thread with conflicting information --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=13848