US Army Suicides Increase by 46% Amid Fixation on Coronavirus

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Oct 14, 2021
US Army soldiers walk at US military Camp Wilderness in Khost province on April 10, 2010. The United States and NATO have deployed some 113,000 troops in Afghanistan, with another 40,000 due over the course of the year as part of a renewed strategy that emphasises development and the “reconciliation” of Taliban fighters. AFP PHOTO/Massoud HOSSAINI (Photo credit should read MASSOUD HOSSAINI/AFP via Getty Images)

A new study commissioned by the Pentagon and released Wednesday indicates that suicides among active-duty members of the United States Army have increased by 46% relative to 2020, with 60 Soldiers killing themselves in 2021. Suicides had in turn increased last year, as well.

It’s not unheard for military leaders to enact anti-suicide programs, although some have questioned if the Department of Defense is emphasizing suicide prevention enough.

Suicide rates have also increased in both components of the National Guard and the Navy. It’s too early to tell if the Marine Corps and Air Force will incur an increase in suicides in 2021.

Service members at times suffer from tenuous family lives, problems with alcohol abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A total of 67 service members have died of the coronavirus since the disease’s origin, with suicide inflicting a far greater toll upon the military than the virus. A total of 580 troops across all branches of the military killed themselves in 2020, dwarfing coronavirus casualties. Some have questioned if laser-focus on coronavirus concerns at military faculties is appropriate, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin having pointed to the virus as the military’s highest priority. Austin admitted that the trends displaying in the suicides report were not gravitating in the right direction. 

Fox News’ Tucker Carlson questioned the military’s commitment to preventing suicides in a Wednesday segment, with opposition to vaccine mandates roiling the institution.

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