British soldier found hanged at his Swansea home

24-year-old British Army Trooper Robert Llewellyn Griffiths, of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, also known as the Welsh Cavalry, has been found hanged at his home in Swansea, South Wales.

Trooper Griffiths, who had served on the front line in Afghanistan, was discovered at the property in Oldway, Bishopston, on the evening of Saturday 29th December.

Click here to read full story at Walesonline

US Army Green Beret veteran of Afghanistan dies in North Carolina

31-year-old US Army Major Benjamin Follansbee, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, died near Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Monday 10th December 2012.

According to a report in TribLive News (and elsewhere on the internet), Maj. Follansbee apparently hanged himself on Monday in his Fayetteville, N.C., residence, quoting Gavin McRoberts, a spokesman for the Fayetteville police.

He served as an airborne Army Ranger in Iraq in 2005 and 2006. He later completed training as an Army Green Beret and did three tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Click here for the full story at TribLive News

British Army Lance Sergeant Dan Collins

Dan Collins, a British soldier who survived a tour of Afghanistan which killed his two best friends, committed suicide by hanging himself in a quarry near his home in Cardigan, Wales, on 1st January 2012. His girlfriend, Vicky Roach said that he had never come to terms with the guilt of out-living his friends. She told news reporters: "The only comfort I've got now is that Dan is at peace with two of his best friends that died out in Afghanistan."

Lance Sergeant Collins, aged 29, had cheated death fighting the Taliban when his own his life was saved by his body armour. But the Welsh Guardsman could not come to terms with returning home safely without his friends Dane Elson, 22, and Tobie Fasfous, 29.

He was shot in the back by a sniper in May 2009 but survived because of his body armour which took the bullet. He was also caught up in two roadside bombings. He served with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

Read the full story here at The Telegraph

NOTE: we have included Lance Sergeant Collins on this website because he had served in Afghanistan and also because he is one of many unreported victims of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

US Army Suicide data: July - August 2011

The US Army has released suicide data for the month of August. Among active-duty soldiers, there were 19 potential suicides: three have been confirmed as suicides and 16 remain under investigation. For July 2011, the Army reported 22 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, five cases have been confirmed as suicide, and 17 cases remain under investigation.

During August 2011, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were nine potential suicides: none have been confirmed as suicide and nine remain under investigation. For July 2011, the Army reported 10 potential suicides among not-on-active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, one case has been added for a total of 11 cases. Three cases have been confirmed as suicide and eight cases remain under investigation.

Source: US Department of Defense

British Rifleman Allan Arnold

Rifleman Allan Arnold

Rifleman Allan Arnold, aged 20, serving with the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was found hanged in a wood in England on 2nd May 2011. He was on leave at the time and hours before the discovery, he had been socialising with civilian friends.

His friends claim that Rifleman Arnold was traumatised after seeing five of his comrades killed in action while serving in Afghanistan.

Close friend Andy Higgins, who had known Allan for six years, said he was unable to cope with losing so many close members of his regiment in Afghanistan. "I think about five of his troop were killed in Afghanistan and he couldn't cope. I hope his family have lots of support - I can't imagine what they're going through", he added.

Italian officer, Captain Marco Callegaro

Capt. Marco Callegaro

Italian Captain Marco Callegaro, aged 37, and serving with the 121st Artillery Regiment in Kabul, skot and killed himself in his office on 24th July 2010.

Captain Callegaro had just returned to Afghanistan after a period of leave in Italy. He was due to serve another 6 months in Kabul.

He was born in Gavello, in the province of Rovigo, and leaves behind a wife and two children.

Dutch Army Sergeant Dijkstra

Sergeant Dijkstra, serving with the Royal Netherlands Army in Afghanistan, committed suicide on 11th October 2006. We have no further details about this incident.