Military vets too often see suicide as a solution

People who have never served in the military can only imagine the emotional toll that the stress of combat can take on those who have. The experience of war can have long lasting emotional effects and lead to deep long lasting depression. For some who have served in war and then return home suicide seems to be an option that they are increasingly taking.
To give you an idea about it in 2005 among the civilian population suicide occured at a rate of about 9 per 100,000 people. Among veterans the number is at about 20 per 100,000. That year there were over 6000 suicides committed by veterans which tranlastes into over 100 a week. One particular age group seems to be more prone to this than others. Among vets who are between the ages of 20-24 the suicide rate rises to about 25 per 100,000 while the civilian suicide rate in this age group remains at about 9 per 100,000.
The depression that soldiers feel after returning home from war has had many names over the years. Currently it is called Post combat related stress. In world war two it was called battle fatigue or shell shock. During the civil war it was called a soldiers heart. It is the emotional distress and depression that can occur during and after a combat experience for a soldier. Suicides are not counted by the military as combat casualties. This can be factored in as another hidden cost of war.