NEW YORK, Mar 21, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs reports suicide attempts among combat veterans who are treated by the VA
are on the increase.
One report, unseen publicly until now, chronicles suicides successfully carried
out by vets after receiving VA treatment as rising from 1,403 in 2001 to 1,784
in 2005, CBS reported Friday.
A second report, dealing with attempted suicides showed the number rose from 462
in 2000 to 790 in 2007.
One of three experts analyzing the data, Dr. Bruce Levin, head of biostatistics
at Columbia University, said the matter needs further attention.
Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs,
calls the figures incredible. He has criticized an apparent VA unwillingness to
provide a full accounting of suicides by military veterans.
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