Suicide rate on rise in U.S. Air Force

[J-10]

Suicide rate on rise in U.S. Air Force
From Barbara Starr
CNN Washington Bureau
Friday, July 16, 2004 Posted: 1:59 PM EDT (1759 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Air Force is reporting an increase in the suicide rate among its personnel this year but has been unable to identify a reason for the rise, a spokesman said.

None of the reported suicides involved enlistees who had deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

There have been 26 suicides in the Air Force so far this year, which equates to an annual rate of about 13 per 100,000. There were 38 suicides in 2003, a rate of 10.2 per 100,000.

The suicide rate in the general population ranges between 11 and 12 per 100,000.

The Air Force is trying to determine if there is some cause or pattern to the suicides.

Indications so far are that the suicides closely follow patterns in civilian society in which young males often face problems with alcohol, finances and personal relationships.

The Air Force notes that young males under the age of 24 represent 37 percent of its population and also 54 percent of the suicides.

Like the other military services, the Air Force has a suicide prevention and awareness program that includes training for commanders.

At the same time, the Air Force reported a possible downward trend.

The last quarter of 2003 averaged 4.7 suicides per month, while the second quarter this year is averaging three incidents per month, the Air Force said.
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/16/airforce.suicide/index.html)

[Deuterium]

The funny thing with statistics is that when you're dealing with such low numbers, any shift in the numbers produces a large percentage change. Not to make little of such tragedies but when you look at the graphs over a longer period you'll see GREAT changes from past years, some up some down. When they say suicides up 20% that may mean only a change of eight people. They also don't say in the article what the suicide rate is for 18-40 year olds per 100,000. They cite the rate for the entire population.

[Helly]

Suicide rate on rise in U.S. Air Force

There have been 26 suicides in the Air Force so far this year, which equates to an annual rate of about 13 per 100,000. There were 38 suicides in 2003, a rate of 10.2 per 100,000.

The suicide rate in the general population ranges between 11 and 12 per 100,000.CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/16/airforce.suicide/index.html)

That's journalism to you. Looking for issues where there's none.

Gen. pop. - 11-12 per 100,000
USAF - 13 per 100,000

That's just a difference of 1 per 100,000, or just 1 thousandths of 1 percent. Deuterium is right. This is nothing (statistically speaking).

[Rakki]

Another way of looking at it is how the USAF is managing to stop young adult males from committing suicide - this is pretty obvious from how the USAF suicide statistics are practically the same as that for the general population, despite of having a far greater share of the "risky population"

[Flagg]

The funny thing with statistics is that when you're dealing with such low numbers, any shift in the numbers produces a large percentage change. Not to make little of such tragedies but when you look at the graphs over a longer period you'll see GREAT changes from past years, some up some down. When they say suicides up 20% that may mean only a change of eight people. They also don't say in the article what the suicide rate is for 18-40 year olds per 100,000. They cite the rate for the entire population.

I love statistics.....I am a certified numbers junky.

But I think with age has come the wisdom to know that if you are "creative" enough, you can come up with a statistic that says monkeys have a 23.5% chance of flying out of my ass.

[J-10]

Suicide rate on rise in U.S. Air Force

There have been 26 suicides in the Air Force so far this year, which equates to an annual rate of about 13 per 100,000. There were 38 suicides in 2003, a rate of 10.2 per 100,000.

The suicide rate in the general population ranges between 11 and 12 per 100,000.CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/16/airforce.suicide/index.html)

That's journalism to you. Looking for issues where there's none.

Gen. pop. - 11-12 per 100,000
USAF - 13 per 100,000

That's just a difference of 1 per 100,000, or just 1 thousandths of 1 percent. Deuterium is right. This is nothing (statistically speaking).

Media usually exaggerate his words. ;)

[el borracho]

Great...more pointless "suicide awareness" briefings that I am gonna have to sit through, it's already been 3 this year (and it's only July). Ahhh the Air Force....

[Deuterium]

Great...more pointless "suicide awareness" briefings that I am gonna have to sit through, it's already been 3 this year (and it's only July). Ahhh the Air Force....

I was thinking the same damn thing...except Army.


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