10 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About The Vietnam War
8. The Suicide Rate Among Vietnam Veterans Is Often Reported As Being Far Higher Than Former Soldiers From Other Wars... But These Figures Have Been Grossly Misrepresented
Statistics can often be manipulated in many different ways in order to "prove" certain theories - and this is most certainly the case with supposed suicide levels in Vietnam War veterans. Although some grossly-inflated media reports have claimed up to 100,000 Vietnam War veterans committed suicide, it is likely the real figure is somewhere closer to 9,000. Furthermore, in the first five years after soldiers were discharged from service during the Vietnam War, they were 1.7 times more likely to commit suicide than those who had served in other conflicts. However, after those initial five years, Vietnam War veterans were no more likely to commit suicide than former servicemen from other conflicts - in fact the rate is actually lower. Undoubtedly many people did tragically take their own lives after having served in south-east Asia, but the figures suggest that Vietnam War veterans were no more suicidal than any other ex-servicemen.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
Statistics can often be manipulated in many different ways in order to "prove" certain theories - and this is most certainly the case with supposed suicide levels in Vietnam War veterans. Although some grossly-inflated media reports have claimed up to 100,000 Vietnam War veterans committed suicide, it is likely the real figure is somewhere closer to 9,000. Furthermore, in the first five years after soldiers were discharged from service during the Vietnam War, they were 1.7 times more likely to commit suicide than those who had served in other conflicts. However, after those initial five years, Vietnam War veterans were no more likely to commit suicide than former servicemen from other conflicts - in fact the rate is actually lower. Undoubtedly many people did tragically take their own lives after having served in south-east Asia, but the figures suggest that Vietnam War veterans were no more suicidal than any other ex-servicemen.