Obama cites military suicide report
Barack Obama is jumping on the latest indication of the toll the Iraq war is taking: An Army report says 115 soldiers committed suicide in 2007, a nearly 13 percent increase over the previous year and the most since at least 1990.
More US troops died last year than in any of the previous years in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the report suggests that a factor was the extension of deployments to 15 months from 12 months, a practice ending this year.
"Today’s news is a tragic reminder of the staggering and ongoing costs of the Iraq war, particularly on our troops and their families," Obama said in a statement. "We are more than five years into this war, and the Pentagon and VA are still unprepared to treat the unseen wounds of battle. We know that incidence of psychological injury increase with each additional tour of duty in Iraq, and that our troops are not getting the support they need. Too many are falling through the cracks because they need help but feel they can’t get it. When I am president, we’ll hire more mental health professionals, increase training to recognize the signs and to reject the stigma of seeking care, and enhance mental health screening and treatment from enlistment, to deployment, to reentry into civilian life."
Obama and presumptive Republican nominee John McCain tussled last week over a bill to offer the military improved educational benefits. McCain said it was too generous to troops with only a single tour of service and would hurt retention in the ranks.
And, of course, they differ markedly on policy on the Iraq war.
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McCain and Secretary Gates are correct. We need to retain experienced enlisted personnel in the military - it is not a penalty to them to have to give an extra enlistment to get full benefits. Those who stay and serve a bit longer, help train their replacements and keep our military the best in the world deserve an extra incentive and benefit.
The Webb bill was held until this year to try and give Obama any leverage possible with the military because of his appalling lack of experience.
Dear American Voters,
Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each having many attributes and characteristics. The critical differences in my professional, political, and personal opinion are as under:
1. Presidential "Temperament and Integrity".
2. Little Washington "insider Versus outsider" connectedness.
3. Vision and mission for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies first USA centric than other countries centric.
In my professional opinion one senator has it and the other does not. We need one for our Greatgrand Nation to address our all these challenges with a fresh, clean and new slate.
God Bless America. its diverse people, and our Greatgrand Nation.
Yours truly,
COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas NV
Hillary can do it!
These suicides should be counted in the official war death statistics and their famlies be given the full death benefit. They are also casualties of this war. In a recent speech Sen McCain said to loud applause he would never leave Iraq until there is victory. He did not put any restrictions on that. So, as far as Sen. McCain is concerned If we have to kill 5 million of them or they kill 5million of our troups, or if it costs 10 trillion dollars its OK with him.
The words "jumping on" which I've noted have been used a lot lately in place of other choices, such as "responds" when referring to statements made by Obama in recent weeks, suggest that the candidate is only trying to get political mileage out of events. We can operate from the position that all candidates everywhere only care about politics and have no true concern for the issues, or we can give them some benefit of the doubt, or at least hold them to higher standards. To do so, we need the press to behave like grownups instead of little kids playing with rock 'em sock 'em robots. (I'm showing my age with that last comment).
When I am president, we’ll hire more mental health professionals, increase training to recognize the signs and to reject the stigma of seeking care,
So, Obama believes there is a "stigma" to seeking care! How shameful of him.
That there are (undefined) people who do is true, but him?
Please be assured Mr. Presidential Candidate, that because someone alleges, practices, invokes a prejudice does not validate that prejudice.
For many years Rosa sat in the back of the bus because of an alleged "stigma." We overcame that ignorance, though it took 200 years for someone to dare at a high enough level to be heard. Please, not another 200 years.
Harold A. Maio
Advisory Board
American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Board Member
Partners in Crisis
Former Consulting Editor
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
Boston University
Language Consultant
UPENN Collaborative on Community Integration
of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities
Home:
8955 Forest St
Ft Myers FL 33907
239-275-5798
khmaio@earthlink.net
McCain just doesn't get it. Sure, bigger GI bill education benefits will encourage some soldiers to get out earlier than they would have, otherwise. At the same time, the lure of the new education benefits certainly will make recruitment much, much easier.
And, of course, McCain has been completely silent on all issues related to our current administration's management of the war, as it relates to marked increases in PTSD - and suicide. BOTH of which increase in direct relationship to the number of tours served in a combat zone. McCain won't talk about that at all.
Seems to me it's a BIG benefit to the country to have MORE college-educated veterans in our country, and FEWER non-college-educated soldiers who kill themselves or suffer from the long-term effects of PTSD.
No Kidding. The population gathers their opinion making intel on media reports and politician remarks on the war - as if that is sufficient for a reasoned opinion. Laughable. It seriously cracks me up that joe blow citizen can confidently and dogmatically state an opinion when they have 2% of the knowledge generally necessary to form a reasoned opinion. Nonetheless, these very people, the majority of Americans, in their bliss-full idiocy, decry the war. This coupled with the trama of war, it is no small wonder the troops feel like crap and put a bullet in their own heads. In summary: shutup. None of us have enough info to decide one way or the other if the war is just. And especially shut your mouth if what you say can have a negative impact on the morale and self respect of the troops.
However they word it, it's nice that one of the candidates is taking note. I'm glad McCain thinks Iraq is going great and everything, good for him and the Iraqis, but maybe he should consider running for president of Iraq instead of the US, because he doesn't seem to interested in how well the Iraq war is going from the perspective of the American people.
As for Patrick's comments about Obama's "appalling lack of experience", I would call it a refreshing breath of fresh air. Just because someone has experience, doesn't mean that experience is any good, or that they've learned from it. McCain has a lot of experience, but he doesn't seem much the better for it.
In, 1976. I join the Marine Corp. Out of Chicago. 1776??? I am Black . from the South.
Born 1958. In Alabama. This is the Best country in the world by FFFar!!!. OBAMA.
No suicide is a good thing. But beneath the politics are the following:
- According to the WHO, the suicide rate in the general population is comparable to (and, in the mid-1990's was higher than) the US Military in 2007.
See http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/unitstates.pdf
- A majority of the suicides are most strongly correlated with failed marriages and other, similar, failed relationships.
- Historically and currently, it is not correlated at all with the casualty rate
It is sad and something to be addressed. It is unfortunate that it is being politicized by someone who hasn't served.
Obama is using this sad and sobering report to make political points. The rest of this data shows that the military still has a lower suicide rate than the general population. Obama once again shows us is is still in the gutter with the rest of our politicians. And once again the press has failed us in its obligation to inform.
The reported news is that suicide rates in the military are seemingly increasing. Isn't this important enough to investigate more? How come the comments are about politics? Don't we want to understand the facts better? I'm particularly disappointed by the entry from COL. Khajawall: with his past experience, and being a psychiatrist, couldn't he contribute some insights on what the suicide rates may mean, give us some meaningful background? Why is he taking this as an opportunity to present his political message instead?
How would McCain feel if the Obama chose to politicize the military issue for his gain as well? He could actually use the military picture to raise fund as well. For instance, he could show to the American people that McCain and some of the republican do not support veteran with deed. McCain refused to support the bill to increase and guarantee college funding for our veteran coming from Iraq. This bill was introduced by Senator Webb, from Virginia to help our veterans, but not only McCain opposed it but also did not show up to vote for it. However, the Obama campaign took the high ground here.
The U.S. military suicide rate: 18.5-per-100,000 rate (highest rate since 1980)
The general population suicide rate: 19.5 per 100,000 (in 2005 and since 1980; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Suicide is tragic, but have some perspective.
Or,...the Obama supporters can continue to make it a crass political move while proclaiming such crassness as a "breath of fresh air".
Their choice. So much for Change™ and Hope™.
Mr. Obama best be VERY careful in touting/using suicides as campaign fodder. Hundreds of thousands of America's best fought in equally, if not worse, battle theaters (WWl and ll, including Korea and Nam) and did not have 1 to 1 mental mentors when they came home. He, like HRC, insults us, with patronizing campaign rhetoric. Stop it now Barak. Yes we could and should do more for our vets. But to use them as campaign fodder pisses this vet off to no end. I have been leaning towards Obama for a host of reasons, but this crap will end that in a heartbeat. The DNC digs up a few cool aid vets, but at the local VFW beer garden McCain is the prohibitive favorite. That won't change unless Barak gets his head out of his ass.
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At the local VFW beer garden McCain is the prohibitive favorite.
The history of the American Mental Health system is horrible. Stigma causes patients to be ridiculed, and humiliated. Stigma causes suicide and under employment. Stigma is caused by derrogatory psych lables, and the "mental" word. In addition a GAO investigation in 1999 found that hundreds of patients were abused, and yes killed by staff on America's psych wards.
No one wants to receive "mental health" services, because evidence shows psych services cause more problems for patients, and their families. Also psychologists are not doctors, and should not be allowed to "practice" on our wonderful military hospital wards. Psychologists, are not medical, and have a history of contempt for the military. Commanders should review their use of all psychologists.
Stigma is caused by the pejorative nature of psych labels. Evidence shows that stigma, and shame contribute to suicidal behavior in patients, and potential patients. Psych labels have no medical nor scientific standing. There is no blood or clicnical test that can confirm, or deny any of the over 330 so called "diagnoses" of "mental illness".
Psychologists are non-medical, and are not independent healthcare professionals. Psychologists being limited should never "practice" in our wonderful military hospitals, nor should they be sent into the field.