James Risen writes about a soldier, Staff Sgt. David Senft, with PTSD who kills himself in Afghanistan. The article lists many things that predict successful suicide:

  • Senft came from a distressed "broken" family.
  • He had many attachment disruptions in childhood.
  • He had been on multiple tours of duty.
  • He had PTSD from a trauma early in his deployments
  • He had attempted suicide before.
  • He'd been hospitalized by the Army, because of former suicide attempts.
  • The Army deployed him, anyway.

The military's mandate for suicide prevention completely failed this man. Read this sad story to know him and know the details.