A Third Of U.S. Iraq, Afghanistan Vets Have Considered Suicide

Survey: A Third Of Iraq, Afghanistan Vets Have Considered Suicide (+video) -- Anna Mulrine, CSM

Some 2,000 combat vets surveyed by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America reported 'the crisis with suicide' as their number one concern.

Nearly half of all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan know at least one fellow US troop who has attempted suicide, and 40 percent know someone who has died by suicide, warns a survey released Thursday by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

The largest nongovernmental survey of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans found that much has improved in America’s care of its veterans, says Tom Tarantino, IAVA’s policy director. Yet there are plenty of challenges that remain – and notable gaps in data nationwide. For example, “We still don’t know how many veterans are alive in this country,” notes Mr. Tarantino, a former US Army captain.

The IAVA survey offers a window into the priorities of the veterans of America’s most recent wars. The survey exclusively sought out combat veterans, who were required to provide proof of their deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan – or both – in order to take the survey.

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Update #1: Suicide's toll: Survey says half of vets know someone who has tried it -- Stars and Stripes
Update #2: Post-9/11 vets fight suicide, mental health issues -- AZ Central

WNU Editor: The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) survey is here.