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28/04/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Suicide Watch

Why are more American veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq dying by suicide than in combat?

More American veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq are dying by their own hands than in combat. Michael Goldfarb investigates the reasons behind the suicide surge.

More American veterans of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq dying by their own hands than dying in combat in recent years. What's behind the surge in suicides by veterans of America's wars of the 21st century?

Michael Goldfarb interviews veteran families who have lost children or spouses to suicide, speaks with military psychiatrists, and visits volunteer suicide helplines staffed by veterans to find out what stresses are unique to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. he asks, are today's young soldiers cut from a different cloth than those who fought in Vietnam or Korea?

He also looks ahead asking if the psychological traumas from service over the last 14 years are a problem that will continue to unfurl deep into the 21st century.

Producer: Julia Hayball
A Certain Height production for BBC Radio 4.

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