tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1885549900454136918.post6836868940760699962..comments2023-08-11T08:06:28.810-07:00Comments on Slobber And Spittle (Archive): Army Suicide Rate IncreasingCujo359http://www.blogger.com/profile/10385213658828021737noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1885549900454136918.post-34034647372665213502009-01-30T23:48:00.000-08:002009-01-30T23:48:00.000-08:00You're right, Annie, I'd forgotten about the disch...You're right, Annie, I'd forgotten about the discharges, although strictly speaking they shouldn't affect the <EM>Army</EM> suicide rate. They should affect the VA's rate, though. Probably one reason I hadn't mentioned it.<BR/><BR/>In the past the DoD has also been rather creative with how it defines "in-theatre" casualties. I share your skepticism about the DoD's estimates of the magnitude of the problem. But assuming the Army is consistent in how it counts suicides, that problem is clearly getting worse.Cujo359https://www.blogger.com/profile/10385213658828021737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1885549900454136918.post-89911179943747960362009-01-30T04:34:00.000-08:002009-01-30T04:34:00.000-08:00It's even more complex that what you so ably descr...It's even more complex that what you so ably describe. There are also the uncounted people who are given general discharges for "pre-existing conditions" so that the military can squirm out of providing care to people with mental illness. I don't think these folks are counted in military and veterans statistics because they fall into an abyss of care - the VA doesn't cover them as they lose all veterans health benefits.<BR/><BR/>There is also the US policy of criminalizing poverty, joblessness, homelessness and mental illness. Given no realistic future with being able to sustain oneself and/or family, suicide is not an unrealistic option.<BR/><BR/>The US has codified Dickens' surplus population and created an unsustainable and unbearable situation for tens of thousands, if not millions, of people - those who are vulnerable to predation.<BR/><BR/>The public keeps people with mental illness at ten-foot-pole length and keeps the problems they suffer intentionally abstract, stigmatized and of the lowest priority.<BR/><BR/>There is no pointing fingers because we are all accountable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com