UK soldier and veteran suicides 'outstrip Afghan deaths'

[dipsydoodle]

More British soldiers and veterans took their own lives in 2012 than died fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan over the same period.

BBC Panorama learned that 21 serving soldiers killed themselves last year, along with 29 veterans.

The Afghanistan death toll was 44, of whom 40 died in action.

Some of the soldiers' families say the men did not get enough support. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said every suicide was a "tragedy".

The Panorama programme obtained the figure of 21 through a Freedom of Information request to the MoD.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23259865

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. But they say the rate is lower than for the equivalent male age groups

which is believable. 2011 figures:
Men 20-24 15.4/100,000; 25-29 17.9; 30-34 19.2; 35-39 24.2; 40-44 26.9

If 'soldier' means anyone in the Army, Navy or Air Force, there were 186,400 in 2011. So the armed forces suicide rate of 21 suicides was 11.3 per 100,000. If the 21 figure is only for the Army, it might be slightly higher than the general figure, but not by much.

[fedsron2us]

2. Suicide is just the tip of the Post Combat Trauma Stress iceberg

You have to wonder what the related figures are for mental illness, drug abuse, alcoholism, homelessness amongst veterans (I know this is much higher among ex soldiers than the rest of the population) etc. The real casualty list for Afghanistan must run much higher than the official figures.

No chance of Tony Blair topping himself. We can but hope.