The problem of suicides continues to haunt Pentagon personnel officials. After 10 years of war, the suicide rate has climbed and remains stubbornly high despite numerous initiatives to bring it down. What’s behind the spike, and what — if anything — can be done to curb it? John Nagl, of the Center for a New American Security, and I discuss this vexing and tragic challenge with Dr. Margaret Harrell, a CNAS military personnel expert who just co-wrote a study on the topic, and Dr. Elspeth “Cam” Ritchie, who recently retired as the Army’s top psychiatrist.
