美國每天18名退伍軍人自殺

每天18名退伍軍人自殺
18 veterans commit suicide each day
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Apr 24, 2010 9:27:34 EDT

Troubling new data show there are an average of 950 suicide attempts each month by veterans who are receiving some type of treatment from the Veterans Affairs Department.
令人不安的新數據顯示，每月平均有950名退伍軍人的企圖自殺，他們正在退伍軍人事務部接受某種類型的治療。
Seven percent of the attempts are successful, and 11 percent of those who don’t succeed on the first attempt try again within nine months.
7%嘗試成功，和11%第一次嘗試不成功的在9個月內再次嘗試。
The numbers, which come at a time when VA is strengthening its suicide prevention programs, show about 18 veteran suicides a day, about five by veterans who are receiving VA care.
這些數字出現正值弗吉尼亞州正在加強其預防自殺計劃，顯示每天約 18名退伍軍人自殺，約五個退伍軍人在接受弗吉尼亞州照顧。
Access to care appears to be a key factor, officials said, noting that once a veteran is inside the VA care program, screening programs are in place to identify those with problems, and special efforts are made to track those considered at high risk, such as monitoring whether they are keeping appointments.
官員說使用照顧似乎是一個關鍵因素，並指出一旦退伍軍人加入弗吉尼亞內護理計劃，篩選計劃在位辨明有問題那些人，並且特別努力作出以追踪那些認為是高風險，例如監察他們是否保持會面。
A key part of the new data shows the suicide rate is lower for veterans aged 18 to 29 who are using VA health care services than those who are not. That leads VA officials to believe that about 250 lives have been saved each year as a result of VA treatment.
新數據的一個關鍵部分顯示，使用弗吉尼亞州醫療服務的18至29歲的退伍軍人自殺率是較低於那些沒有使用的，那導致弗吉尼亞州的官員相信，每年大約 250人的生命已被救回，因為弗吉尼亞州的治療結果。
VA’s suicide hotline has been receiving about 10,000 calls a month from current and former service members. The number is 1-800-273-8255. Service members and veterans should push 1 for veterans’ services.
弗吉尼亞州的自殺熱線已收到每月大約 10,000個從現任和前服務成員的來電，號碼是1-800-273-8255，服務人員和退伍軍人應按1字為退伍軍人服務。
Dr. Janet Kemp, VA’s national suicide prevention coordinator, credits the hotline with rescuing 7,000 veterans who were in the act of suicide — in addition to referrals, counseling and other help.

Suicide attempts by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans remains a key area of concern. In fiscal 2009, which ended Sept. 30, there were 1,621 suicide attempts by men and 247 by women who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, with 94 men and four women dying.

In general, VA officials said, women attempt suicide more often, but men are more likely to succeed in the attempt, mainly because women use less lethal and less violent means while men are more likely to use firearms.

Suicide attempts among veterans appear to follow those trends, officials said.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/04/military_veterans_suicide_042210w/