Deaths | Afghanistan mission is stressful

A7

By MURRAY BREWSTER
The Canadian Press

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OTTAWA - More Canadian soldiers killed themselves in 2008 than the year before, but the military says the overall suicide rate has remained steady throughout the war in Afghanistan, despite the obvious stresses of the mission.

Fifteen active-duty members of the military took their lives last year - a rate of 23 per 100,000 - versus 11 confirmed suicides in 2007, according to newly released Defence Department statistics.

But the average rate of suicide over three years, from 2005 to 2008, was 17.9 per 100,000.

Those are the years which involved the heaviest combat in Afghanistan and the highest number of troop rotations.

Surprisingly, the military doesn't track suicides among reservists who are filling an increasing number of the positions in the battle groups that are deployed for six month rotations in Kandahar.

The figures, from the military's medical branch, come amid greater public awareness of the issue following the apparent suicide of Maj. Michelle Mendes in Afghanistan and media coverage of the growing number of cases among U.S. soldiers.

There were 128 confirmed U.S. army suicides in 2008 - a rate of 20.2 deaths per 100,000. The U.S. Marine Corp suicide rate was 19 per 100,000.

A broadcast report last year claimed the number of suicides in the Canadian Forces had doubled, but that information was based on data that was compiled from military police logs, which included other kinds of "sudden" deaths, such as accidents.

In considering the latest numbers, the Canadian military's top doctor zeroed in on the three-year average and said Canadians appeared to be faring better than their biggest ally when it comes to dealing with the stresses of war.

Commodore Hans Jung said there are some important differences that contribute to the slightly better rate, including the fact that Canadian troops deploy for six month tours. American units serve between nine and 15 months in war zones.

"That tour length is a huge issue," the military's surgeon-general said in an interview.

Since Canadians became involved in major combat in 2006, there have been regular debates within the upper ranks of the Defence Department about extending Canadian tour lengths for battle group soldiers, but the idea has always been vetoed.

Troops who serve with support elements, such as the headquarters, are deployed for longer stretches.