SDF Troops in Afghanistan have Suicide Rates 3x National Average

Posted by Bill Belew on July 21st, 2010 in Japan | Comments Off

Self Defense Force members pitching in in the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have a suicide rate 3 times the national average.

So far, 16 of the 19,700 troops who have served have taken their own lives.

The matter was brought up by a House of Representatives Social Democratic Party member.

Japan's lower house passed a bill to extend the refueling mission. The upper house is still opposed.

Japan's national average is 24 suicides per 100,000. The SDF rate is 81 suicides per 100,000.

The overall SDF suicide rate is nearly one third of the suicide rate of SDF troops serving in U.S. missions as well.

The defense ministry says – "It is not possible to generalize by saying there is a direct relationship between the dispatch of the SDF and the deaths." 

Really now?


 

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