Suicide in the Military (US)

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Introduction

Suicide refers to “the act of intentionally, causing one’s own death”. Individuals often commit suicide out of despair. Despair can be caused by a number of reasons such as mental disorder, substance abuse and failed relationships. Suicide is ranked 13^th among the leading causes of death in the world. In the United Sates of America, suicide is the sixth leading cause of death.

In US, suicide cases are not only high among civilians, but also in the military. Studies indicate that the number of suicide cases reported in the military between 1977 and 2003 were comparable to those reported among the civilian population. However, the suicide rate in the military began to rise sharply from 2004. Currently, more suicide cases are reported in the military than among the civilians.

Studies reveal that suicide cases in the US military have increased by 80% since 2004. In 2009 and 2010, the soldiers who died as a result of suicide were more than those who died in combat. This paper focuses on suicide in the US military. In particular, the causes of suicide in the military will be discussed. Additionally, the treatments and interventions being used to prevent suicide in the military will be analyzed.

Causes of Suicide in the US military

The rise in suicide rate in the military has been associated with a number of factors. These factors include social, environmental, biological, as well as, behavioral issues. The contributions of these factors to the rise in suicide in US military can be explained as follows.

Biological

Studies reveal that individuals who have attempted to commit suicide have low levels of serotonin. Serotonin is one of the most important neurotransmitters in the brain. Approximately, 90% of suicides are committed by individuals who suffer from some mental disorder or illness. The most common mental disorders associated with suicide include schizophrenia, depression and personality disorders.

A 2008 study on suicide in US military revealed that majority of soldiers who committed suicide had been diagnosed with a mental disorder or illness prior to their death. Over 25% of the soldiers who committed suicide had adjustment disorder. Soldiers who had depression were 11 times more likely to kill themselves. Additionally, soldiers with anxiety were 10 times likely to commit suicide.

The high cases of suicide among soldiers are also attributed to medical conditions. Medical conditions such as chronic pain cause some psychiatric disorders such as depression which in turn leads to suicide. Chronic pain, as well as, physical disability is the main cause of suicide among older soldiers and even high ranking military officers.

Empirical studies indicate that soldiers suffering from chronic pain as a result of major injuries often develop depressive symptoms. Soldiers who become disabled often develop anxiety and despair due to the fact that they can no longer be the soldiers they used to be. Such soldiers resort to suicide as a way of ending their pain and frustrations.

Social

Several social factors contribute to the high cases of suicide in US military. In the last two decades, the main social risk factors that led to suicide included being young, white, as well as, male.

The number of completed suicide among female soldiers tends to be less than the number of completed suicides among male soldiers. Additionally, higher suicide rates have been reported among Caucasian soldiers who are the majority in the military. Blacks and Hispanics have relatively low suicide rates.

Breakups in relationships and work-related problems are also major causes of suicide in the US military. Most soldiers experience relationship problems since they hardly spend enough time with their loved ones. In the last decade, two thirds of suicides in US military were attributed to failed relationships.

The remaining one third of suicide cases were attributed to a humiliating experience that threatened the soldier’s job. In general, soldiers who are involved in failed relationships with their partners or members of their unit often develop emotional disorders such as a feeling of hopelessness and anger.

Similarly, work-related problems such as demotions or inability to cope with overseas deployment also contribute to emotional disorders. These disorders in turn precipitate suicide or suicidal thoughts.

Behavioral

Substance or drug abuse is one of the main behavioral risk factors that contribute to the rise in suicide in US military. Both chronic drug abuse, as well as, acute drug abuse has the potential of precipitating suicide.

Psychoactive substances have a high potential of causing suicide due to their intoxicating and dissociative effects. When these effects are combined with personal problems such as financial difficulties or breakups, the risk of suicide becomes very high.

In the context of US military, overconsumption of alcohol, cigarettes and illicit drugs such as marijuana has been associated with suicide. Alcoholics are likely to commit suicide since alcohol abuse causes several mental health disorders. For instance, heavy drinkers often develop major depressive disorders.

Some studies have showed that consumption of more than six rounds of drinks per day increases the risk of suicide six fold. There is a positive correlation between smoking, suicidal thoughts, as well as, suicide attempts.

In a study involving three hundred thousand male soldiers from the US military, it was found that soldiers who smoked more than a pack of cigarette per day were twice likely to commit suicide than non-smokers. The increased use of alcohol and other drugs in the US military is, thus, a major cause of suicide.

Environmental Factors

US soldiers have always worked in deplorable environments. For instance, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been associated with the worst environmental conditions and uncertainty. This can be illustrated by the effect of combat on the soldiers. Soldiers who stay in prolonged wars often get used to violence.

Additionally, such soldiers become desensitized. Soldiers see many dead bodies and wounded victims, some of which are their comrades. As a result, soldiers become alienated from friends, as well as, families back at home. Under such circumstances, soldiers normally develop a sense of fatalism. This translates into suicide and strange, as well as, risky behaviors such as driving too fast or spending more time cleaning a gun.

In general the soldiers’ experiences in a war environment contribute to high cases of suicide through three factors namely, failed belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, as well as, habituation to self-injury.

These factors normally come into play when a soldier is not able to fit in his or her unit and in cases where the soldier is not able to effectively perform his duties. Additionally, these factors may be evident when a soldier is dismissed from the army, sees many people die and experience pain as a result of injuries sustained in war.

Treatment/ Intervention

The authorities of the US military have taken cognizance of the need to reduce the cases of suicide in their ranks. As a result, several intervention programs have been put in place. To begin with, training programs have been developed and implemented to sensitize soldiers on suicide. The programs focus on buddy aid by training soldiers to identify the signs and symptoms of suicide in their comrades.

Additionally, the programs encourage soldiers to assist their colleagues who exhibit symptoms of suicide by taking them to a mental health treatment center. Baddy aid programs are normally implemented before and after deployment briefings. They are also implemented during safety briefings, as well as, during annual suicide briefings.

The other interventions used in the military include “post-deployment health assessment and periodic health assessment screen for depression and post traumatic stress disorder”.

In these assessments, soldiers returning from deployment are normally asked questions about their family problems, drug use, behavioral problems, as well as, risky behavior. The screens are normally analyzed in order to identify soldiers who are likely to commit suicide. The soldiers with suicide symptoms are normally advised to seek mental health care.

The training and screening programs have not been effective in reducing suicide in the US military. This is because the cases of suicide continue to rise even though the screening and training programs have been used for the last decade. In many cases, soldiers who have been screened still exhibit signs and symptoms of suicide.

The screens also fail to identify soldiers who are at risk since some soldiers fail to disclose their problems. Soldiers are often reluctant to share their problems for fear of being victimized or dismissed from the army. Therefore, more effective treatment/ intervention strategies should be put in place to curb suicide. The following strategies can help to control suicide in the military.

Means Restriction

Means restriction refers to “the use of barriers that prevent easy access to the means of suicide”. Such barriers include fences on bridges and limiting access to firearms at home. Empirical studies reveal that the presence of a firearm at home and the ease of accessing it increase the risk of suicide. The risk of suicide is at least five times higher in homes with guns than in homes without guns.

Approximately, 70% of suicides in the military are committed with the aid of a gun. Consequently, soldiers returning from deployment, especially, those having symptoms of suicide should only be allowed to carry a gun under the supervision of fellow soldiers. Additionally, returning troops should be sensitized on the dangers of easy access to guns when they have relationship or reintegration problems.

Treatment

Acupuncture can help in reducing the pain that soldiers experience during and after a deployment. Acupuncture ensures pain relief, thereby preventing the development of mental disorders that can precipitate suicide. Animal-assisted therapies can also be used to provide nurturance, as well as, a sense of purpose. In this context, therapy dogs can be used to control the effects of mental disorders.

For instance, a stressed soldier can always pat his dog as a way of controlling anger and fear. Additionally, a soldier suffering from post traumatic stress disorder can regain the structure of his live by bonding with his dog. Retreats can also be used to facilitate the integration of veterans with their families. Finally, psychotherapeutic talk therapies can be used to reduce suicidal thoughts.

Such therapies can help in reducing self-harm behaviors, as well as, suicidal ideation. Emerging studies reveal that lithium can be used to reduce the risk of suicide in individuals with bipolar disorders. Consequently, it can be used as treatment for suicide in the military.

Conclusion

Suicide occurs when a person intentionally causes his or her life. It is considered one of the major causes of death in the US, especially, in the military. Studies reveal that cases of suicide in the US military have significantly increased since 2004. The main factors that precipitate suicide among US soldiers include drug abuse, mental disorders, medical conditions, as well as, social factors such as failed relationships.

The experience of soldiers in a war environment also contributes to fatalistic suicides. The military authorities have tried to control suicide through interventions such as training and screening programs. However, these interventions have had little success. Consequently, alternative interventions such as restricting access to means of suicide should be used to reduce suicide in the military.

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