-Caveat Lector- Dec. 28, 2002, 7:49PM http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/1717216 Increased suicides worry Marines
By ERIC ROSENBERG Hearst News Service WASHINGTON -- Marine Corps officials are concerned about a recent rash of suicides in their ranks. The Marines currently have the highest suicide rate among the four branches of the armed forces, although the service has significantly reduced the rate of self-inflicted deaths through prevention programs over the last decade. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Jones sent a message to all Marines Nov. 26 urging them to renew their efforts at suicide prevention. "Recent reports of suicide in the Marine Corps highlight a disturbing trend that needs our immediate attention and renewed commitment," Jones said. "We must focus our attention on ensuring every possible measure is taken to battle this tragic and senseless loss of life." As of Dec. 1, seven Marines had killed themselves in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 -- three in October and four in November. "If the current trend continues" for the rest of the 2003 fiscal year, Jones warned, "we will effectively double the suicide rate" compared with last year. The current trend would point to a total of approximately 42 suicides this fiscal year; by comparison, the Marines have averaged 24 suicides annually for the last four years. The seven suicides in two months amounted to a sharp uptick compared with prior months. One Marine died in an apparent suicide in September, while two died in suicides in August, according to monthly data compiled by Jones' office. There were no Marine suicides in July, three in June, two in May, none in April, three in March, one in February and one in January. Navy Cmdr. Thomas Gaskin, staff psychologist in the Marine Corps Personnel and Family Readiness division, said Jones was "concerned with the trend as we head into the holiday season, which is considered by many to be a stressful time of year." The Christmas and New Year's period and the weeks following can be fraught with isolation and emotional distress for both civilians and service personnel alike. In an advisory sent to Marine commanders last year, service mental health officials warned that the post- holiday period especially can be most "tumultuous" for people contemplating suicide. "January can bring serious financial burden and feelings of isolation and therefore requires our closest attention," the memo warned. Gaskin said there was no special cause for the recent increase in suicides and that the additional deployments and transfers linked to increased anti- terrorist operations weren't a factor. Instead, he said, the causes are "the same old stuff everybody else faces," including relationship problems, legal problems, financial problems, alcohol and drug abuse. Marines who kill themselves typically are younger, junior enlisted. But in 2000, the Marines began to notice a demographic shift -- an increasing percentage of the victims were staff non-commissioned officers and officers. The number of suicide deaths in the entire military is small compared with the overall active duty force of about 1.4 million service members. The suicide rate for the armed forces is about 12 deaths per 100,000, about one-half to two-thirds the rate for a comparable segment of the civilian population. Military officials reported at least 118 suicides in all services in 2001, with rulings still pending in 69 other deaths. Nonetheless, suicide often has been the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. armed forces, after accidents, over the last 10 years. Suicide prevention received new attention after the death in 1996 of Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jeremy "Mike" Boorda, who fatally shot himself after questions were raised about whether he deserved some of his military decorations. Jones said that the purpose of his suicide-warning message was to "sound a call for action" among the troops and encourage Marines to watch for suicidal tendencies among colleagues. "Warning signs are often presented to Marines close to the victim, but these are sometimes ignored," he said. " `Taking care of our own' has been a hallmark of the U.S. Marine Corps for 227 years. There is no substitute for the vital role that each of us plays in suicide prevention," Jones said. As part of the Marine Corps effort to fight suicide, all Marines are required to take annual suicide awareness training. In addition, suicide awareness training is given at leadership schools such as basic officer courses, the staff noncommissioned officers' academies and infantry seminars. The instruction varies in length but is up to two hours long. Counseling also is available to all Marines for help in problem- solving, anger and stress management, financial problems and substance abuse. 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