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NewsMine war-on-terror united-states soldier-suicides Viewing Item | Marine suicides highest in 10 years Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3057748http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3057748
Feb. 26, 2005, 1:17AM
Marines' suicides highest in 10 years Top official says the demanding war schedule might be a factor Washington Post
WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps suffered a 29 percent spike in suicides last year, reaching the highest number in at least a decade, with the demanding pace of military operations likely contributing to the deaths, the top-ranking U.S. Marine said Thursday.
Thirty-one Marines committed suicide in 2004, all of them enlisted men. The majority were younger than 25 and took their lives with gunshot wounds, according to Marine statistics. Another 83 Marines attempted suicide. There were 24 suicides in 2003, and there have not been more than 29 in any year in the last 10.
Although last year's suicide rate rose, it was still below the national average for a comparable civilian group, in keeping with lower suicide rates in the U.S. military.
Marine commanders say the rise in suicides continues a three-year trend that is likely linked to stress from the increased pace of war rotations.
The Marines have launched an "operational stress control and readiness program" in which mental health professionals are embedded in Marine divisions.
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