Young male Army recruits identified as more likely to die by suicide

 

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Teenage soldiers 'at higher risk of suicide'

Young male soldiers are much more likely to take their own lives than men of the same age in the general population, new Ministry of Defence (MoD) figures have revealed.

New statistics, collected and released by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA), show that between 1984 (the year that records began being kept) and 2009, a total of 71 teenage Army recruits died by suicide.

The figure equates to a 51 per cent higher rate of suicide among Army personnel between 16 and 19-years-old than among civilian males in the same age category, according to the Telegraph.

Researchers concluded that the equivalent of 17 out of every 100,000 Army males aged between 20 and 24 take their own lives, while 16 out of every 100,000 servicemen under the age of 20 die by suicide.

Of all the Armed Forces, the Army was found to have the highest overall suicide rate, with 13 deaths per 100,000 soldiers. This compared to nine in every 100,000 for the Naval Service and ten for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

 

Causes of suicide among Army servicemen

The Suicide and Open Verdict Deaths in the UK Regular Armed Forces study states that over the course of the past 26 years, 737 soldiers have been confirmed by coroners to have died by suicide, with verdicts pending on a further 23.

Of those who were confirmed to have taken their own lives, 718 were male and 19 were female.

While the study was not designed to analyse the reasons behind these suicides, several theories have been proposed as to why younger servicemen, in particular, may be more susceptible to taking their own lives.

Colonel Bob Stewart, former United Nations Commander in Bosnia, told the newspaper: "For many of these youngsters, when they join the Army it is the first time they have come under real pressure of any kind.

"The stress of combat can be immense, especially for those who come very close to the enemy [… and] the training can also be tough."

Dr Kate Harrison of DASA added that it may also be the case that recruits who are new to the Army are carrying unresolved emotional baggage from their lives before signing up, which may leave them more vulnerable to suicide.

 

Life after the Army

The DASA report supports the findings of another recent study, which noted an increased suicide risk among young ex-service personnel.

In joint research conducted by the Centre for Suicide Prevention at the University of Manchester and DASA, published by the Public Library of Science, analysts looked at suicide rates for former members of the armed forces between 1996 and 2005.

During the stated study period, 233,803 individuals were found to have left the armed forces, with 224 later confirmed to have taken their own lives.

The researchers found that ex-servicemen between the ages of 16 and 24 were more than twice as likely to die by suicide while trying to re-adjust to civilian life as any other age category, particularly within the first two years of being discharged.

Other high risk factors for suicide among ex-armed forces personnel identified by the University of Manchester study included working in a low rank during service and spending only a short amount of time enlisted.

Disturbingly, the study also noted that the rate of contact with mental health specialists was lowest amongst armed forces recruits aged 16 to 24, despite their apparently increased vulnerability to suicide.

Army suicide rates 'falling overall'

However, while an inflated suicide rate was identified among younger male Army members, armed forces personnel are apparently less likely to take their own lives than the general population.

A spokesperson for the MoD told the Telegraph: "There has been a clear downward trend in the suicide rate in the armed forces over the last 26 years.

"Indeed, overall suicide rate for the UK regular armed forces is 43 per cent lower than the UK general population."

The study backs this assertion, with results showing Army servicemen are 31 per cent less likely to die by suicide than civilians, while both RAF and Navy officers are 55 per cent less likely to take their own lives.

And, with the exception of the under-20 age category, a gender analysis of the results revealed that male suicide rates for members of the armed forces are also lower overall than among the rest of the population.

This reduced risk of suicide can be attributed directly to the internal support the armed forces provide to members in need of emotional support, according to the MoD spokesman.

He told the newspaper: "We have made significant progress in managing the risk of suicide and self-harm and identifying and caring for those at risk through wider training, better access to support networks and improved supervision levels."

Samaritans

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, you can call Samaritans for support 24 hours on 08457 90 90 90 (UK) and 1850 60 90 90 (ROI), or email at jo@samaritans.org, or face to face - visit http://www.samaritans.org/ for your nearest branch.

 

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