One of the things I find most troubling as I learn more about the cost of this war is getting a deeper understanding of the psychological toll of war. I guess it should not be surprising, but I am not sure how else to describe it.
The Department of Defense recently released a report classifying deaths and injuries that have occurred as a result of "Operation Iraqi Freedom". It covers the period from the beginning of the war, through till November 1, 2008. During that time period there have been 167 military personnel who have died from "self-inflicted wounds". Suicide. And another 24 have died as a result of homicide.
The mix of relative youth, stress in the battlefield, and perhaps at home, and weapons make this a very real likelihood. As I try to imagine the personal pain that someone might be under to reach that point of taking their lives, it is easier than I would like it to be. Multiple deployments. Relationships under strain or failing. Financial challenges back home that are out of their control. Perhaps a vulnerability to depression. I am sure you can envision the challenges these men and women face too.
As easy as it is to "understand" this situation, which really is incomprehensible, I find myself wondering, "What if?" What if this war never happened? What sort of life would this person have led? What life did they miss out on because of this war? Would they have struggled in life regardless of being in a war, or would their life have followed a very different trajectory?
The same applies to the homicides. Would this person have been killed in this way if they had not been sent off to this war? Would the person who killed them never have committed such an act outside of this environment? Or did they live with the same risks here at home? Doing the math, the rate actually ends up being comparable to the rate of suicide for men, in their early twenties, in the U.S.
After the soldiers return home the risk for suicide seems to increase. A study of epidemiological data by CBS News, found that the rate of suicides among veterans, aged 20 to 24, was between 22.9 and 31.9 per 100,000, compared to a rate of 8.3 per 100,000 for non-veterans, in 2005. There were approximately 120 suicides per week among this group.
These numbers do not get counted as casualties of this war.
Should they? I think so.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
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I am part of a group called Give an Hour, which provides counseling free of charge to Veterans. check out their group on Facebook or their website www/giveanhour.org If you support the cause, becoming a fan would reach more people in need, and volunteers. Thanks for doing your cranes. I have sent some in.
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