325 Army suicides in 2012 a record. How many of these were by gun? [View all]
By Tom Watkins and Maggie Schneider, CNN
updated 3:41 AM EST, Sat February 2, 2013
(CNN) -- The U.S. Army reported Thursday that there were 325 confirmed or potential suicides last year among active and nonactive military personnel.
"Our highest on record," said Lt. Gen. Howard Bromberg, deputy chief of staff, manpower and personnel for the Army.
The grim total exceeds the number of total U.S. Army deaths (219) and total military deaths (313) in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, according to figures published by the military's Defense Casualty Analysis System.
For all of last year, 182 potential active-duty suicides were reported, 130 of which have been confirmed and 52 of which remain under investigation, it said.
And 143 potential not-on-active-duty suicides were reported (96 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve), 117 of which have been confirmed and 26 remain under investigation.
The total for 2011 was 283 -- 165 confirmed active-duty suicides and 118 confirmed not-on-active-duty suicides (82 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve). No cases were under investigation.
The toll comes despite what the military touts as extensive support and counseling programs.
more at link:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/02/us/army-suicides/index.html
Does it even matter how they did it? Doesn't this speak to the broader issue that the support needs to be more Extensive and the programs for Counseling even more Intensive?