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Marine suicides highest in 10 years

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   http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3057748

http://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.


Army probes soldier suicides
Army suicide attempts at record numbers { January 31 2008 }
Army suicides for 2005 hit 83 { April 21 2006 }
At least 13 soldiers committed suicide
At least 17 troops committed suicide
Iraq veteran fires on crowd in massachusetttes { August 14 2005 }
Marine suicides highest in 10 years
Military slayings { July 26 2002 }
Special forces suicides upon returning from duty { October 11 2005 }
Suicides in iraq { February 19 2004 }
Suicides of us troops rising
Us soldiers committing suicide { August 26 2003 }

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