Suicide Among Soldiers Suicide Rate

Suicide Among Soldiers

Suicide Rate Among Soldiers in the War with Iraq

The CBS evening new ran a story in 2004 that stated that as many as 30 American troups serving in Iraq did not die at the hand of enemies, but rather took their own life (Macnamara).The problem was virtually ignored until more than 600 soldiers were evacuated and sent back to the States for Psychiatric problems (Macnamara). The problem is expected to grow, as troops become weary from battle. Statistics for this article were derived from officially military records. These records only take into account, actual suicide attempts. They do not account for the many who are depressed and having suicidal thoughts, but that have not yet acted on these impulses.

The army typically has suicide rates higher than other branches of the armed services, with rates as high as 10-13 per 100,000 soldiers. As of 2003, the rate was only at 8-9 soldiers per 100,000 (Zorova). Yet, the army considers even one soldier to be a significant loss in this respect. They have the goal of making certain that every soldier makes it home to their family. Mental health issues have become an important research topic, especially where the military is concerned. This study will explore suicidal intentions among soldier serving in the Iraq war, with the intent of discovering the factors that drive them to suicidal thoughts.

Concept

This study will use a survey questionnaire to explore the most important stressors in a soldier's life that have the potential to lead to suicidal thoughts. The study will use random References sampling techniques, drawn from a pool of soldiers who have recently returned from Iraq. It will use quantitative techniques and Likert-type responses to question soldiers about which factors play the most important role in creating substantial stress in the combat zone.

This sampling technique will allow the researcher to quantify the items that represent the greatest stress for soldiers in the field. Quantitative methods are useful when the data can be transformed into a single data point, as in this study. Results will be analyzed using frequency distribution to determine which factors soldiers consider to be major stress factors in the field.

Application

This study will help to identify factors that could be used to help improve the mental health of soldiers and lower suicide rates among troops. The results of this study will help to identify those factors that would have the greatest impact on soldiers' mental health in the combat zone. Although, it is recognized that many of the factors that will produce stress that are beyond control. However, by focusing on those things that can be changed, one could hope to make a soldier's life tolerable and tom help prevent them from developing mental health issues.