The document contains a set of research questions from a student asking about the causes of suicide among veterans, what is being done to prevent it, relevant statistics, and what personal steps veterans can take to prevent suicide. Specifically, the student asks if there are factors beyond stress and guilt from war, about training and therapy for soldiers, suicide rates by war, age, and gender, and therapies available to help soldiers experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts.

1. Kristin Sundvall
Ms. Lester
H 10 W Lit/Comp
12 April 2010
Research Questions
1. What causes some veterans to commit suicide? I always just assumed it was the stress of
war or the guilt of having to kill another human being, but I would like to know if there is
something more to it.
2. What is being done to prevent this from happening? I want to know if there is any sort of
special training or therapy that soldiers go through to prepare them for the effects of war and
keep their minds clear of suicidal thoughts.
3. What are the statistics? How many veterans commit suicide, which war had the most
recorded veterans' suicides, what age group is at a greater risk for suicide, what gender group is
at a greater risk for suicide, etc.
4. What can soldiers do personally to prevent suicide? If a soldier is already in a depression
because of war, what can he/she do to stop him/herself from acting on the feelings that come
with depression? Is there a special kind of therapy offered to soldiers who feel on the edge of
suicide?