Suicides May Exceed Deaths From Combat For U.S. Soldiers

Boston (dbTechno) - According to the head of the U.S. Institute of Mental Health, Thomas Insel, the number of U.S. veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have committed suicide may exceed the number of deaths from actual combat.

Insel spoke during a news conference to kick off the American Association’s annual meeting.

He stated that around 20% or around 300,000 U.S. soldiers who have been sent into Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder, and/or depression.

He also stated that the vast majority of these soldiers, over 70%, do not actually seek any type of help for their problems.

Insel warned that it is possible that the number of suicides and psychiatric mortality of war could be above combat deaths.

Since the U.S. went into Iraq in 2003, more than 4,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed. The death toll from Afghanistan is around 300 since 2001 when that conflict began.

The annual meeting is likely going to focus the most on the psychological impact of war on these soldiers.

Around 20,000 mental health experts are expected to be at the annual meeting over the next four-days.