Charles P. Smith On Why We Need To Stop Veteran Suicide Rates EP 37

According to the 2020 National Veterans Suicide Prevention Annual report, suicide rates continue to increase in the U.S. adult population. There is also a growing correlation between post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide risk. In this episode of the Passion Struck Podcast, John R. Miles interviews Charles P. Smith on the growing suicide rate among veterans, active-duty military members, and the general population. Charles served 10 years as a Marine Corps officer. Through his TedX, viewed by over 2 million, and this podcast, he is trying to bring a voice to the voiceless. We discuss how mental illness is the same if not more important as physical health, yet it is viewed completely differently. If someone's mental health isn't there, we need to talk about it. This is a subject that we need to focus on in this growing dilemma that seems to be ignored by the highest levels of the military. Charles provides shocking information that since September 11th, there have been over 115,000 veterans who have taken their lives through suicide. This number was fact check by the TedX team. The reality is that if you include active duty members, it is over 138,000 - a 20:1 ratio of suicides in the military community compared to those who lost their lives in combat. We also discuss these statistics on why we need to focus more on suicide rates at the highest levels of the military and government. And the growing link between post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide rates. Statistics on suicide rates It is a staggering statistic that 46,510 American adults died by suicide in 2018, compared with 31,610 in 2005. The average rose from 86.6 per day in 2005 to 124.4 in 2017 and 127.4 in 2018. That is a 47.1% increase, and the rate of suicides in veterans is 1.5x that of the general population. Across the nation, the number of suicide deaths has been rising since the turn of the millennium. Overall, from 2005 to 2018, the age- and sex-adjusted suicide rates among Veterans were higher and rose faster than those among non-Veteran U.S. adults.