Post Conflict Suicide

[cuefaye]

On BBC. Apparently, not as many UK combatants take their own lives in the aftermath of modern conflicts as was previously held by he MoD. For example, it is now known that only 97 poor souls did so in the years after the Falklands War; much less than hitherto thought. ONLY - how sad, and very appalling.

[kintyred]

To be fair, it's less than the equivalent civilian age group according to the report.

[cuefaye]

Haven't read the piece, but if you're right, it's still appalling - and surely that's a very high percentage?

[Finnpog]

Stress on special ops troops 'worse than we thought' (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/19/stress-special-operations-chris-faris/1781157/)

An interesting, if horrific read. Also worth looking at is the US DODSER ( DoD Suicide Event Review ) data and the UK military stats.

Folks - don't let one story convince you that suicide in serving and veteran troops is low. The academic evidence suggests otherwise.

In 2012 more US troops (Active Duty and Reserve) killed themselves than were killed in combat.
In the same year 6500 US veterans (including those who left the service the previous week) took their own lives.

The UK isn't different - we are just not seeing it in such brutal numbers.

I don't often rant, but this is a specialist subject of mine.

[racedo]

This has been discussed on here before but its not just suicide that is the issue, alcoholism, marraige breakup, homelessness and number who end up in
prison.

Number of military veterans in prison understated, say campaigners | UK news | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/15/military-veterans-prison)

[Tankertrashnav]

I often listen to a programme on BBC Radio 4 which deals with statistics and the like (can't for the life of me remember its name) and last week's edition had an item on this subject. The presenter also quoted a survey on Vietnam war veterans which came to a similar conclusion, contrary to the received wisdom that there was a much higher percentage of suicides among war vets than the equivalent sample for non-combattants. However I'm no statistician, and bearing in mind the old saying about "lies, damned lies and statistics" I'm keeping an open mind on this one.

[ExAscoteer]

The MOD also insisted that PTSD post Falklands and 'Gulf War Syndrome' did not exist.

[SOSL]

TTN. I think you are talking about "More or Less". It's an interesting programme which illustrates that "popular" statistics e.g. those which are quoted in the media can easily be presented so as to appear to "prove" whatever the presenter wants to prove.

These so-called statistics are usually hedged about with underlying assumptions and caveats. Also we are not told what data were they based on, how it was collected, how it was processed and how significant the inferences are.

Rgds SOS

[Whenurhappy]

Read Ben Golbacre's Bad Science or visit his website Bad Science (http://www.badscience.net/) to see how 'popular' statistics are presented/managed/manipulated.

I was speaking to a senior SSAFA officer late last year and we got on to the issue of ex SP homelessness and prison populations. He was of the belief that these 'statistics' (25% and 10% respectively, IIRC) were massively inflated and did not bear scrutiny. Firstly, Ex-military to social services could include TA, regular, and Cadet Forces, and there were no qualifying periods, ie, an 'ex military' could have left after one day's recruit training, or could be homeless after 22 years' service. Moreover, there are 'chancers' who claim to be ex military because this may garner sympathy (and benefits). I remember a survey (probably 10 years ago - and I think discussed on PPrune at the time) looking at the military homeless in London. Most, it seemed, didn't suit the military life - and withrew from training or were discharged due to unsuitability, disciplinary issues or substance abuse. And of course, no other vocational group is singled out...

Thta's not an excuse to be complacent; one just has to read the harrowing accounts in the Combat Stress magazine to see the effect military service can have 10-15 years after the event - affecting career personnel in their 30s and 40s. Several years ago I was working with another officer who was suffering from PTSD, believed to have originated during OP GRANDBY. He became very unwell and suicidal. However, he is still serving and is receiving expert support.

[Tankertrashnav]

TTN. I think you are talking about "More or Less".


That's the one SOSL - thanks.

[SOSL]

The point is I can't tell what is true and what isn't.

Rgds SOS

[racedo]

The MOD also insisted that PTSD post Falklands and 'Gulf War Syndrome' did not exist.

But they went to war in Iraq ib 2003 for WMD which supposedly did.