Number of military suicides far surpasses soldiers killed in combat since 9/11: report

NBC News reported on recently released data showing that since Sept. 11, there are more military suicides than there were combat soldiers who died in the line of duty.

Research from the Costs of War Project at Brown University revealed that an estimated 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans who served since 9/11 committed suicide. Since 9/11, just 7,057 were killed while in combat.

"The trend is deeply alarming," the report says. "The increasing rates of suicide for both veterans and active-duty personnel are outpacing those of the general population, marking a significant shift."

The Department of Veterans Affairs releases the data on deaths by suicide but it doesn't show death specifics for those in combat. So, the study's author calculated using the VA data to estimate the suicides based on age and other data.

"In an interview, Suitt said the number 30,177 is likely well below the actual number of suicides for active duty and veterans. He believes one of the reasons the numbers continue to climb is indifference by the American public," NBC News reported.

"For veterans to come home to an uncaring civilian population or to an uncaring public, that must be devastating," Suitt explained.

Many veterans suffer from traumatic brain injuries that leave lasting damage many doctors don't fully understand. Post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological concerns are also connected to the suicide numbers, the report explained. The greatest barrier is that some service members aren't getting the medical care needed, which can make things worse.

"There was a sense that an active service member would rather lie on a screening to be able to stay in the military," said Suitt. "If they have a traumatic brain injury but no other physical injuries, they downplay the injuries to stay in their career."

One concern he discovered is that many active-duty military members feel that being discharged early due to medical issues would make them feel as if they're losing their identity. There's no real transition for military members from combat to veterans' hospitals and back into civilian life. The military bounces service members from one to the other.

Suitt also noted that there are still Americans who have no idea that there are still people serving in conflicts that are related to 9/11, even 20 years after the attack.

He told the public that they should care.