Lance Corporal Bowers Suicide

The problem that I am presenting is obviously the suicides in our military, but the solution I am proposing is not that of what the doctors and researchers are working towards. Instead of focusing on resiliency training that the Army STARRS has come up with, I think we should be focusing on building morale in the individual squadrons around the globe. When people go to work dreading what it about to come because they are sick of being in an environment that they have to be constantly worried about making one mistake that might end their whole career, some of them might in turn become suicidal. I’ve seen it. The solution I am proposing is that throughout all the branches, the units become more focused on the people’s well being rather than what kind of discipline they are going to give for someone making a mistake. Rather than burning people for making a mistake for the first time, they should provide them with the help they might need to get better. For lack of better words, they need to stop kicking people when they are down. All the branches are guilty of

f. Summarize: Although all the contributing factors behind military suicides are still not clear, stories like these make it very clear there are issues that need to be addressed. The military troops need to feel comfortable seeking help. When military members seek therapy or help, it needs to be more readily available to them. More studies need to be done to assess if there is a direct correlation between the rise in prescriptions and the surge in suicides. Soldiers on prescription anti-psychotics need to

There are an alarming number of veterans who suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. The suicide rate on returning veterans is on the rise. In California, service members were killing themselves and family members at an alarming rate. After an investigation, it was apparent that they do not have enough properly trained individuals to over see

As a consequence of the stresses of war and inadequate job training, when they get out of the service many have fallen behind their contemporaries. If they are fortunate enough to become employed, many of them are unable to hold a job due to untreated PTSD and acquired addictions without services and counseling designed for them. These factors may place our returning veterans at a higher risk of suicide. In 2007, the US Army reported that there were 115 suicides among OIF/OEF veterans. This was the highest number of suicides reported since the Army started keeping track about 30 years ago. In general, the risk for suicide among these veterans was not higher than that found in the U.S. population (Tull). However, there are several programs and 24 hour suicide hotlines available for those that may contemplate committing suicide as an option.

Tim Bowers had every right to make the decision to take himself off of life support. Bowers was fully aware and concious when he made the decision to be taken off life support, fully knowing the extent of his injuriuries. He understood what his life would be like had he decided to undergo surgery on his spine and remain on life support. Based on the principle of beneficence, the risk of the surgery causing more pain for Bowers was worse than any good that could have been gained, since Bowers had stated that he did not want to live his life in a wheel chair, being only able to sit up, causing emotional dismay and unhappiness. Since Bowers had told his wife before the accident that he did not want to remain in a wheel chair had something were

According to http://worthywarriors.org/images/PTSD-Related_Military_Suicides_by_Branch_2.png, the most suicides happened in the Army out of any military branch. They had way more than the navy did. The Army had 23.7%. And the Navy had 14%. But more suicides happened in the marines than with regular civilians. Civilians had 13.7%. And the Marines had 19.9%. Now you see how big this problem really is and we need to help them as much as we can. This is not okay and we need to do something about it now before more people start killing

The suicide rate for non deployed Afghanistan veterans is at a staggering sixty one percent whilst deployed veterans is at only forty one percent. In comparison, of number of bodies that is around eight thousand for the non deployed and only about 2,000 for the deployed. These stats are confusing because most would think that the war is what drives soldiers to the edge, but apparently that is not the case. The cause of these suicides has a range of explanations. Some simply related to the fact that the transition of wearing a uniform every day to not, is a challenging feat. In the army taking on a leadership role comes with the job whether you get deployed or not. Transitioning to commanding others then ending up in a job where you are the follower is a difficult

According to recent data, suicide is in on the top ten causes of death in the United States. As the staggering number of suicides increases to over 36,000 a year, and more than a 100 each day. (O’Neil 1) When looking at the data for military veterans, the numbers are even more alarming, as the increasing number, is caused for a national concern. In the past decade the demographics for veterans that committed suicide was predominantly was white male and in the age range of 18 years to 25 years old. Many of the reasons found for their suicide was mostly related to job satisfaction, money problems, or relationship issues. However, since the military has been engaged in war after September 11th, the demographics have changed. No longer is the demographic profile predominantly white, but now it involves several races, as well as age ranges that extend up to 44 years of age. The issues that have been found includes the stress of deployment, knowing when the time is up, the stress of leaving their families, the stress of possible dying, and other added stressors. As McCarl (2012) points out, “For these service members to survive the battlefield only to return home and commit suicide is a notion that reeks of depressing irony.” (McCarl 398) Suicides by Veterans have become a growing health concern, as many have come back from war, trying to adjust to civilian life. The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the growing rates of suicide by war veterans. Examining the causes,

With the growing number of veteran related suicides, there is a cause for concern on what may be the contributing factor or factors to yield such outcome. The current rate of suicide for veterans in the United States 18 to 22 incidences daily, which is higher than ordinary non veteran citizens (1).

2015Across the US, it is estimated that 22 veterans commit suicide a day. This is a shocking and disturbing number. And what is even more alarming is that this statistic doesn’t include active-duty members. Between January and March of this year 75 active-duty Soldiers have taken their own life. These numbers are from the Pentagon’s quarterly Suicide Event Report. Veterans are returning from an active combat theater and taking their own lives at an alarming rate.

The highest rates of suicide in Veteran populations mimic those of the general population: being male, white, and elderly (York, Lamis, Pope & Egede, 2013). Currently, available literature agrees that the top influencing factors of Veteran suicide include depression, combat experience endured, and psychiatric disorders not previously diagnosed. Historically, the incidence of suicide has been 25% lower in military personnel than in civilian peers (Kane et al., 2013). However, with prolonged and repeated deployments seen in OEF/OIF/OND, the incidence of suicide has almost doubled among U.S. Marine and Army soldiers between 2005 and 2009. Firearms, the most frequent means of completed suicide in the general adult population, account for 41% of completed suicide of all military personnel, who are routinely trained in firearm use during basic training (Johnson et al., 2013).

Alarming soldier suicide rates (20 soldiers a day commit suicide due to PTSD), warrants a check on what are the causes, effects, and treatments provided to soldiers, especially if they have any mental health issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In addition, personnel in other domains such as law enforcement, medical, and firefighter who experience traumatic situations, may be susceptible to PTSD and if it is not treated on time may result in suicide.

Suicide is usually perceived as an individualistic act, enacted by an individual who has experienced immense trauma to their psyche. A recent report on the suicide rate within a specific Marine battalion challenges this notion. The veterans in this battalion are an outlier in regards to veteran suicide; however psychology is at work in attempting to explain the reasoning behind these suicides. The devastation the Marines face from the deaths of comrades, as well as the trauma they face in their day to day lives after their tour of Afghanistan, are forces that work against them. The assumption that the suicides is a result of psychological trauma is valid, however the impact

In the article, members of the Second Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment are interviewed, in an attempt to interpret such high volumes of suicides amongst the members of this unit. According to Phillips (2015), many of the suicides were results of the difficulty from these members to reintegrate into civilian society, after their experiences in Afghanistan. The veterans discuss how they must normalize killing others to ensure the safety of their fellow comrades. For example, Mr. Havniear talks about an incident where he shot an elderly woman because she was running towards him and his group with an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher), and continues to say that it’s difficult to leave those memories behind (Phillips 2015). It is that mentality of ‘you or me’, that keeps these military members safe at war, but when they come home they have to abide by a complete new set of rules that require the member to relinquish an identity of instinct and solidarity to one of individualization to fit into civilian society. Moreover, organizations such as the VA (Veteran Affairs) that are meant to ease the process of integration fail to meet the needs of the individuals returning home. As a result, many of the veterans feel abandoned by the very society that they selflessly vowed to protect. Accordingly, the veterans become isolated and feel

At the age of nineteen, Sam decided he wanted to go out and see the world, so he made his decision to join the military. Sam’s decision to join was based on the facts that he wanted to get out and see the world, but he decided on the Marine Corps because my grandpa, his dad, served in the Marine Corps. One of Sam’s goals was to prove to Grandpa and himself that he could make it through the Marine Corps. Not only did he accomplish this goal, but he became an E5 Sergeant. With being an E5 Sergeant, Sam was in charge of a group of about twenty guys. An E5 Sergeant has a lot do duties, including making sure fellow marines have proper mental and physical training. E5 Sergeants also have to have constant control over their marines. They have to pass on instructions from the