Suicide is rising among young male war veterans

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Suicide is rising among young male war veterans
By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Associated Press Writer
Jan 12, 3:14 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Home from war and out of the military, young male veterans appear to be committing suicide at a higher rate.

The Veterans Affairs Department said Monday that preliminary data reflects that the suicide rate among 18- to 29-year-old male veterans has increased significantly. It said the rate went up 26 percent from 2005 to 2007. VA officials said they assume that most of the veterans in this age group served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

If there is a bright spot in the data, it's that in 2007 veterans in the group who used VA health care were less likely to commit suicide than those who did not. That's a change from 2005.

In recent years, the VA has hired thousands of new mental health professionals and established a suicide hot line credited with "rescues" of nearly 6,000 veterans and military members in distress.

The military has also struggled with an increase in suicides, with the Army seeing a record number last year. While the military frequently releases such data, it has been more difficult to track suicide information on veterans once they've left active duty.


Rest of article at: http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/U/US_VETERANS_SUICIDE?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-01-11-12-12-06