Noteboom The Law Firm

Military Revamping Their Efforts to Combat Suicides Among Soldiers

January 14, 2011 - While the Marines saw their suicide rate drop over the last year, the Army's suicide rates have unfortunately increased by a considerable amount. The disparity between the different suicide rates is significant and must be addressed. The individual military branches made considerable efforts last year to combat and prevent suicides, and this year the military will revamp and improve on those efforts in an attempt to keep their soldiers and veterans safe, both physically and mentally.

Both the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have suicide prevention programs already in place and operating. A newly formed task force called the National Actions Alliance for Suicide Prevention will bring both soldiers and veterans into the mix. The task force will merge those already existing suicide prevention programs with "the best minds in the public and private sectors" in order to make those existing programs stronger and more effective. 

Veterans and soldiers have requested counseling services at increased rates over the last few years. Over the same time period, the amount of suicides among military personnel and veterans has increased and surpassed the national average. Heightened awareness is helping to erase the stigma of needing and asking for help. It is hoped a nationwide effort to combat suicides among military personnel and veterans by coupling private and federal resources will help prevent more suicides across the board.