Record Number of Suicides in US Troops

The US Army has reported a 13% increase in the number of suicide in US troops in 2007. We may think the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are over or winding down, but in fact, 2007 was the deadliest year on record for our service men and women.

115 soldiers committed suicide in 2007, and most of them did so within 3 months of deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. The majority were under age 25 years old and married. The US Army is responding by training primary care providers to diagnose and treat combat related illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), two diagnoses that are seen in unprecedented numbers in our troops.

The Army emphasizes "staying connected" as an antidote to the mental health problems plaguing our soldiers.




Thank you alisonheryer for use of photo US Troops Wait Out Iraqi Scud Attack

Labels: PTSD, suicide rate, US army

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Interview with a Hero: Dexter Pitts of HBO's Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq

Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq is a documentary film from Executive Producer James Gandolfini featuring interviews with ten injured troops who have returned from Iraq. This quiet, elegant film premiered on HBO Sunday September 9, 2007 at 10:30PM and you can see the entire film on HBO.com through September 16, 2007. Half of the troops returning are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Dexter Pitts, featured in Mr. Gandolfini’s film, is one of them. HBO and Mr. Pitts made possible the following interview:

JC: Hi, Mr. Pitts – do you prefer to be called Dexter or Mr. Pitts?

DP: You can call me Dex, ma’am.

JC: OK, Dex thank you, call me JC. So tell me a bit about when you went to Iraq…

DP: In June 2004 I was US Army active duty. I was 20 when I left, 19 when I enlisted. I was married at the time, no kids. I was in Iraq six months and 20 days when I got injured. I was injured January 2, 2005.

JC: What happened?

DP: I was in the driver’s seat of a Humvee and an IED exploded half a meter away from the door – I’m lucky to be here…My left arm was broken in three places, I had a contusion in my brain, shrapnel in my back…I left Iraq January 4, 2005.

JC: And were you transferred to Germany?

DP: Yes, ma’am - I was in Germany 2-3 days and then sent to Walter Reed. I was discharged from there after six months of rehab – in August 2005.

JC: And were you diagnosed with PTSD while you were there?

DP: Well, what happened was, they had regular lunch meetings to check the mental status of the people who were OIF [Operation Iraqi Freedom] and that’s when it came out…

JC: How was the re-entry process for you with your family? I mean, do you mind talking about this stuff? My goal is for people, civilians like myself to understand better what you and all the other veterans returning with PTSD are going through…

DP: No, I don’t mind at all- It was hard, it was real hard. Especially with my wife. I had changed as a person. I didn’t know who I was any more. Little things set me off…My little 12 year old cousin was just a kid fooling around – but in Iraq, kids might kill you…so my cousin hit me in my left arm, my bad arm and I hit him in the chest – I needed help. I couldn’t differentiate between the good and bad…people would try to understand, but they didn’t know where I was coming from…I had changed.

JC: How are things with your family now, after treatment?

DP: I got divorced in October 2005. I’m stronger now. It’s a combination of therapy and the work I did on myself. I had a lot of support from my family even though they didn’t always understand…My dad was in the service 20 years – but he never saw conflict. My experiences there in Iraq are burned into my mind. I’m still in a hyper-arousal state – when you’re in these constant huge crowds, and anyone might be someone who could kill you – we were in the Abu Ghraib housing projects surrounded by all these people who don’t like you – so crowded around you – so today I still have a hard time with crowds.

JC: Where do you live today and what type of work are you doing?

DP: I live in a big town in Kentucky. I’m a full-time college student studying criminal justice. I can’t have a regular job with all I’ve been through – I’d like to be a cop in the Federal system – like the US Marshals. I’m getting into acting some, too.

JC: Wow! That’s incredible…well, you certainly have a great personality and a fantastic attitude to do anything…so can you tell me about your treatment for PTSD?

DP: I have been in small group therapy – Group therapy in Fort Durham. For a while I was on three different medications – Seroquel, Zoloft. I was depressed – I had severe depression. I felt so much guilt about being home while my whole unit – Alpha Company 214 - is facing their third tour over there – they’re all coming home in November and I can’t wait!

JC: There has been a lot of talk in the news about people having trouble getting care for PTSD – did you have that problem?
DP: I never had trouble getting treatment. I was taken care of from the beginning. The trouble is – you have to ask for it, and us men, we have this machismo, we’re in denial. You have to admit you have a problem – you have to fight for what you want. Now me – I was going to get off the bench and get in the game…

JC: That’s an awesome attitude…how about sleep?

DP: I still have trouble sleeping. I can only sleep well when I have people around me I can trust, like my girlfriend. Then I feel I can let my guard down and sleep well. The intrusive memories never go away. You can’t get rid of the memories. You have to control them – not allow them to control you…It’s a part of me…I carry it but I can’t let it take over my dreams and what I want to accomplish. I’m the shot caller…

JC: Why did you enlist in the Army?

DP: I hated the military when I was young – I thought it would ruin my life and I was never going to join. But Hollywood influenced me and my dad really was a part of it. Because he did it I guess I wanted him to be proud, to show him I could do the same and more. He was real old school growing up – we weren’t close – I’m a real mama’s boy. We didn’t show emotion. My dad is a real tough guy – but when he heard I got hurt – he cried. He cried for me…I would give anything to see that…and we are closer today. The whole family is closer. Tragedy brings us together…

Labels: Alive Day, Alpha Company, Dexter Pitts, HBO, Operation Iraqi Freedom, PTSD

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REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 9 10:30 HBO: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES:HOME FROM IRAQ

Beginning Sunday September 9 through September 16, 2007 HBO will be airing the very special documentary by Executive Producer James Gandolfini Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq. I had the opportunity to see the film this weekend and was struck by how unsentimental it is. Filmed on a black, blank stage, Mr. Gandolfini quietly interviews some truly tough men and women about what lead them to enlist in the service (Army or Marines), what they remember about the day they almost died, and the aftermath. There are no cheap attempts to manipulate our emotions. There are no judgments about the right or wrong of war or this war in particular. There are just ten human beings, aged 21-41, unique, full of life, energy, love, ideas, desires, hopes and dreams sharing their stories with Mr. Gandolfini.

Interspersed with the interviews are videos of the servicemen and women at home or at play or in Iraq before they were injured. There are videos of them in the hospitals and rehab centers or dancing after the injuries. Each has a story to tell.

Some of the facts Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq educates us about:

• 90% of the wounded of this war survive their injuries
• the majority of the wounded cope with amputations, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• this war is seeing the highest percentage of amputees since the Civil War
• 50% of those wounded suffer from PTSD
• 33% of the injured suffer from TBI
  

Mr. Gandolfini calls them "True American heroes." And as HBO has observed, their fight has just begun. For the 30,000 wounded troops among us, and no doubt many more who will return to our shores, we need to rally round them, and help them with this fight. Watch this movie to gain a better understanding of their struggle.

See previous posts: War of Disabilities: HBO's Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq Tells the Stories
Home From Iraq: HBO, James Gandolfini Focus on New Veterans

Labels: amputees, Gandolfini, HBO, Iraq, PTSD, TBI, veterans

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Home From Iraq: HBO, James Gandolfini Focus on New Veterans

Depression is a serious problem for returning veterans of the Iraq war and their needs are going unmet. Returning veterans report feelings of alienation from their homes and families. The psychological problems, be they depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are creating havoc in family life, with almost half of veterans reporting family conflict or other relationship troubles upon returning from service.

The Veteran Resources Website has rich resources for family members concerned about loved ones with signs of mental illness or distress. That's just not enough though to prevent the alarming public health crisis that is the high suicide rate found in returning veterans. Mark Kaplan MD of Portland State University, has published a study finding that male veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide as civilian males. Oddly, being overweight seemed to confer protection against suicide by 50%. Dr. Kaplan states that being a veteran is a risk factor for suicide, especially for males.

Last week the Pentagon was forced to acknowledge that the suicide rate among returning veterans is the highest it has been in 26 years. Morale is extremely low, troops report little faith in their commanding officers. Problem relationships, legal and financial problems upon returning home are the reasons cited for suicide. "...there was a significant relationship between number of days deployed...and limited evidence to support the view that multiple deployments are a risk factor for suicide behaviors..."


The biggest threat to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is improvised explosive devices (IED). Experts describe a mind set needed of constant vigilance - no place is safe. There is no safe haven. There is no down time. Devastating injuries from the war are the focus of a new HBO film by Executive Producer James Gandolfini, Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq.
In this new documentary which first airs September 9, 10:30 PM exclusively on HBO, Gandolfini interviews 10 veterans about their "alive day" - the day they suffered devastating injuries and lived to tell about it. Healthline will be featuring more posts about this event as we approach the date. We are honored to help HBO promote the important message of the film.

Thank you Cpl. Joseph DiGirolamo for use of photo of Lance Corporal William A. Staley while stationed in Iraq, 5/2006.

Labels: depression, Gandolfini, HBO, IED, PTSD, suicide, veterans

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