WASHINGTON — Suicides in the US military surged to a record 349 last year, far exceeding American combat deaths in Afghanistan, and some private researchers predict the dark trend will worsen this year.
The Pentagon has struggled to deal with the suicides, which Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and others have called an epidemic. The problem reflects severe strains on military personnel burdened with more than a decade of combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, complicated by anxiety over the prospect of being forced out of a shrinking force.
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This should be front page news. We need to treat our military better. I've read too many stories of those who struggle for benefits and services that would help them deal with physical injuries. Clearly, with 349 suicides, there's a big problem with mental health issues. I'm old enough to remember how badly Vietnam vets were treated. We need to show our appreciation as a society for what our military does, things that most of us would never want to experience. This is really sad.