“I went to my captain and said, ‘Sir, I need help. Something’s wrong.’”
“It’s like I lost me somewhere,” said Williamson, a Navy lieutenant commander who experienced disorientation, depression, memory loss and chronic exhaustion.
According to Defense Department data, suicides among active-duty service members increased by more than 40% between 2015 and 2020. The numbers jumped by 15% in 2020 alone. In longtime suicide hotspot postings such as Alaska – service members and their families contend with extreme isolation and a harsh climate – the rate has doubled.
Last year the Army issued fresh guidelines to its commanders on how to handle mental health issues in the ranks, complete with briefing slides and a script. But daunting long-term challenges remain. Many soldiers fear the stigma of admitting to mental health issues within the internal military culture of self-sufficiency. And those who seek help often find that stigma is not only real, but compounded by bureaucratic obstacles.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said that while posting to Alaska can be a dream for some service members, it’s a solitary nightmare for others that needs to be addressed. The annual Combat Fishing Tournament in Seward, Alaska, was formed to “get the kids out of the barracks, get them off the base for the day and get them out of their heads,” said co-founder Keith Manternach.
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As suicides rise, US military seeks to address mental healthRising suicide rates among active service members have forced the Pentagon to review the military's mental health protocols.
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As suicides rise, US military seeks to address mental healthAccording to Defense Department data, suicides among active-duty service members increased by more than 40% between 2015 and 2020.
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As suicides rise, US military seeks to address mental healthAccording to Defense Department data, suicides among active-duty service members increased by more than 40% between 2015 and 2020.
Weiterlesen »
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As suicides rise, US military seeks to address mental health“It’s like I lost me somewhere,” said Williamson, a Navy lieutenant commander who experienced disorientation, depression, memory loss and chronic exhaustion. “I went to my captain and said, ‘Sir, I need help. Something’s wrong.’'
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