A new study finds 13 percent of Marines who've been deployed overseas have considered taking their own lives, according to the Marine Corps Times.
The San Diego-based Naval Health Research Center conducted the study.
Cynthia Thomsen, a research psychologist with the Naval Health Research Center, told the Marine Corps Times:
“In our sample, unfortunately, 13 percent of people reported some type of suicidal thoughts or plans."
Thomsen said Marines who've been in many combat situations - and then suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and/or drug abuse as a result - are most at risk for suicide thoughts or plans.
According to the North County Times, there have been at least 14 confirmed suicides within the Marine Corps this year:
An additional 73 active-duty Marines have attempted to take their own lives this year, according to the service's suicide prevention program.... Program officials reported 163 attempts last year and a record 172 in 2010.
