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GUEST:Nancy Lessin, Co-Founder of Military Families Speak Out

According to a new U.S. Army report, suicides in the military reached its highest rate in 26 years. Released last Thursday, the Army Suicide Event Report found that in 2006, ninety-nine soldiers committed suicide with more than a quarter occurring during deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among the reasons cited for the suicides were legal and financial troubles as well as failed personal relationships. The Army report did note that there was “limited evidence” to suggest that multiple redeployments put servicemen and women at a greater risk. It was more openly acknowledged that length of tours factored significantly in the risk of suicides in the military. However, not included in the report are the number of army suicides that occur after soldiers leave active duty. The high suicide rates that have been reported has lead to calls for greater mental health treatment for returning veterans. So far this year, 44 soldiers have taken their lives.

For more information, visit www.mfso.org/.