Half of deaths in Russian Army suicides

[Venom PL]

MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - Suicides continue to be the main cause of death in Russia's Armed Forces, the Defense Ministry said Monday. According to the ministry's official Web site, a total of 262 servicemen have died from crimes, accidents and suicides so far this year.

The deaths were mainly due to suicides (147), accidents (60), traffic accidents (27), murder through negligence (15), hazing (7) and mishandling of arms (6).

The ministry earlier said a total of 554 servicemen had died in 21,252 accidents and other non-combat-related incidents in the Russian Armed Forces in 2006.



Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070820/72627624.html

Are there any detailed statistics showing the couse of suacides in Russian Army .eg: bullying ?

[Jarhead]

It may sound sad or stupid but thats nothing new

[Elmo]

No, there is no such thing as bullying in the Russian army. Weaklings and those that do not understand the culture misinterpret things. That is what I've learned
from russian mp.net members from the US.

[Igor01]

In US, there were 99 confirmed suicide cases in 2006, the highest level in the last 26 years according to a US military report: http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/20/4490-suicide-named-third-leading-cause-of-death-among-national-guard-soldiers/
Not trying to draw any parallels, there is no question that we cannot equate Russian and US military, but suicides do happen in any army, even the arguably world's best, simply because the military is part of the society as a whole. For example, according to the report, suicide is the third leading cause of death for US National Guard members but if we look at the ratios - the numbers are almost the same as the nation's average level. It is not surprising that Russia, having gone through a massive catastrophic turbulence during the early 90's that destroyed the old Soviet social infrastructre, all but killed manufacturing industry and threw the majority of the population below the poverty line - has a much higher average suicide rate.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

I'm not sure about the official figures here in the UK but it's a problem for former servicemen too.

Four ex soldiers that I have known personally have taken their own lives in the last few years. Two of them were Falklands veterans.

[SlowButSure2]

I hear more ex-Falkland vets have suicided than actually died in the conflict.

I don't know whether that's true or not, but if so that's trauma induced suicide.

[eechoss]

whats hazing?

[Kaapeli]

whats hazing?

Subjecting someone to abusive and/or humiliating mental or physical harm.

[Midn./Patriot]

Hazing is very hard to stop.

After someone is hazed, and gains a leadership position, they will usually carry on the tradition.

Hazing often goes unreported because reporting it will make people lose respect for you, and they may be riduculed. Its SOP for many of the worlds large militaries, especially in Asia.

[PJSRAAC]

In most peace time Army's Suicide should account for the most deaths, its just Math, they are younger on avg than the Population whole so cancer and heart attack take a back seat. Mind you I haven't taken into account that there would be cultures that just have low suicide rates anyway, but Western societies seem to be afflicted with this illogical response to life stresses but I suppose when you understand some of those stresses it gets a whole lot easier to understand why.

Car accidents would be another, a country on a War footing would be another story I suppose depending on the nature of the conflict.

I know of 3 here in the last 12 months that I directly know and were serving. Another 2 that attempted.

Its difficult to deal with, some Soldiers just get so lost and loose direction wether it be family breakdown or other pressures. Alcohol abuse etc.

[nemowork]

Take kids who dont want to be conscripted, send them far away from home, stress them out and stick them in with other young people angling to be top dog and military trainers who really want to stress them, theres going to be a lot of miserable kids.

The result is kind of inevitable, i mean how many western kids kill themselves and all they have to worry about is exam results and eastenders?