输掉战斗 军事自杀的挑战[20111031].pdf

Losing the BattleThe Challenge of Military SuicideO C T O B E R 2 0 1 1 P O l i C y B R i E fDr.Margaret C.Harrell and Nancy BerglassSuicide among service members and veterans challenges the health of Americas all-volunteer force.While any loss of military personnel weakens the U.S.armed forces,the rapid upswing in suicides among service members and veterans during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan threatens to inflict more lasting harm.If military service becomes associated with suicide,will it be possible to recruit bright and promising young men and women at current rates?Will parents and teachers encourage young people to join the military when veterans from their own communities have died from suicide?Can the all-volunteer force be viable if veterans come to be seen as broken individuals?And how might climbing rates of suicide affect how Americans view active-duty service members and veterans and indeed,how service members and veterans see themselves?This policy brief has four objectives.First,it examines the phenomenon of suicide within the U.S.military community,including both the frequency of suicide and the extent to which suicide is related to military service.It outlines