Rate at USNA?

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Thrivalgardener

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We have a good friend who goes to Princeton. This friend is a junior. This friend has lost nine classmates to suicide since they started there. I don't know what this comes out to in percentage numbers or anything like that but I couldn't find any figures about it at USNA. Does anyone know?
 
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I think the question should be “how is the Academy being proactive in looking for the signs and symptoms of depression so that help can be brought to Midshipmen whom they suspect are struggling” …

Btw … Rate is not an absolute number … there needs to be some context or window over which the rate is applied to yield a number
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Dr. Strange Love said:
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I think the question should be “how is the Academy being proactive in looking for the signs and symptoms of depression so that help can be brought to Midshipmen whom they suspect are struggling” …

Btw … Rate is not an absolute number … there needs to be some context or window over which the rate is applied to yield a number
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Click to expand...
I agreed completely. Just when my daughter heard those numbers from our friend she was shocked. That situation never occurred to her and she was hoping that students had better support at USNA. Pretty sure they do.
 
Suicide is definitely an issue in the military. But, they understand that and have been attempting for years to try and address the mental health challenges. That is one of the reasons DoDMERB is so tough.

Also, there are buckets of resources at the Academy (and in the military in general) to help those in need.

Unfortunately, there was someone in my extended family who could have used those resources within the military who didn't get the help she needed. :(
 
Thrivalgardener said:
We have a good friend who goes to Princeton. This friend is a junior. This friend has lost nine classmates to suicide since they started there. I don't know what this comes out to in percentage numbers or anything like that but I couldn't find any figures about it at USNA. Does anyone know?
Click to expand...
I have wondered this myself. From the news coverage it does appear the wider military needs to tackle mental health more proactively. I imagine USNA is not immune, being that it must feel like a pressure cooker at times, same as Princeton. Our cardiologist friend who practices in the Princeton area has been telling us for years that his patients are getting younger and younger. They are twenty-something students seeking appointments because they think they are experiencing a heart attack. After examining them, he has to explain their symptoms are most likely caused by stress and anxiety and refers them to mental health practitioners. Most of these students are both relieved and shocked by this news.
 
It’s rare but sadly not unheard of. While the Academy’s social media might portray midshipmen as superhuman rockstars, they’re still people after all. Life is stressful at a service academy by design, and then there are those difficult personal circumstances involving family, health, relationships, or what have you. Resources at USNA seem to be on par with other colleges and military commands, but these tragedies still happen from time to time. I’ve been to memorial services for midshipmen who died by suicide, and it was a sad day.
 
Every aspect of our civilization has room to improve in this regard. Every age group, demographic, civilian, military, first responders, average moms and dads, siblings, students, candidates, humans. We all have our version of life’s baggage and real trauma.

Less social media, more interpersonal interactions, healthy discourse, places to share our personal selves when we feel afraid or as though we aren’t or cannot cope. Maybe less medication and more opportunities to sit and be honest in a safe and trusted environment.
 
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