Article originally posted on the Military Times – View
Article Author – Meghann Myers
From April to June this year, 16 more service members died by suicide than did in the same time period in 2019, according to Defense Department data released Oct. 15.
During that time period, compared to the same period last year, there was a 14-percent spike overall.
“The DoD recognizes the potential impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of our Service members and families,” according to the 2nd quarter report, released Thursday. “We are closely monitoring potential impacts and proactive steps to mitigate those potential impacts from COVID-19.”
The number of troops taking their own lives in the first half of the year overall also increased, with 9 more service members dying by suicide in the first half of 2020 than had in the same time period in 2019.
DoD reports 260 suicides in the first and second quarters of this year, which represents a 3.6-percent increase from 2019.
Last month, Army officials told the Associated Press that they had experienced a summertime spike in suicides, setting off alarm bells about how the coronavirus pandemic ― and the relentless stress of 2020 in general ― is affecting troops.
“I can’t say scientifically, but what I can say is — I can read a chart and a graph, and the numbers have gone up in behavioral health-related issues,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told AP.
Though DoD will not released 3rd quarter numbers until early next year, an official told CNN earlier this month that that 35 active-duty soldiers died by suicide in July alone, compared to 43 in the previous three months, and 38 in the three before that.
The DoD numbers show 81 Army suicides through June, and 114 through the end of August, CNN reported, up from 88 total during the same eight months in 2019.
Article originally posted on the Military Times – View
Article Author – Meghann Myers
