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Quote: <BR> <BR>"A young conscript’s suicide at the Niinisalo artillery brigade this month is drawing attention to issues of firearm access and draftees' mental health. The Finnish Defence Forces says it keeps a close eye on conscripts’ mental well-being and tries to pinpoint youngsters with a proclivity towards depression, but it admits the system isn’t fool-proof. <BR>A serviceman took his life only one week after beginning his national service at the Niinisalo artillery brigade in January. It is still unknown how he got the bullets that he used to take his own life. No other servicemen were endangered during the incident. <BR>Suicide is the second most common cause of death among conscripts after traffic accidents. Lieutenant Colonel Timo Mustaniemi of the Kaarti Jaeger regiment, however, underlines that most cases occur when a conscript is on holiday or unauthorised leave" <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>Source (there is more details on the problem): <BR> <BR><a href="http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/01/conscript_suicides_raise_concern_over_firearm_access_509998.html" target=_top>http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/01/conscript_suici des_raise_concern_over_firearm_access_509998.html</a> <BR> <BR>BTW, just today the Army Commander J.Kaskeala told to the media that of those, who have started their service this month, an estimated 20% (all time record) will not be able to serve the whole term, <BR>the causes of failure being either physical or mental. <BR> <BR>He suggested improvements in pre-military medical screening.
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Quote: <BR> <BR>".............. <BR>The average weight of starting conscripts has risen by around five kilograms. <BR>"I just heard that of the conscripts who started their service in January, many are physically out of shape and don't have a chance of completing the whole term of service," says a concerned Chief of Defence, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala. <BR>The military's greatest challenge now appears to be within its barracks: overweight, out-of-shape young men with increasing mental issues and a growing intolerance for the rigours of army life. For many of them, the early mornings, strict discipline and distance from their girlfriends is too much to bear. <BR>Not all young men are faring worse - the average is slipping, but a gap is forming. While many more are unable to stick it through, growing numbers are also flying through military service with better and better results. <BR>.............. <BR>"We also want to make sure that those who quit for mental reasons, if they show signs of alienation, that they get the help they need," he adds. " <BR> <BR> <BR>Source: <BR> <BR><a href="http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/01/military_service_too_tough_for_one_in_five_conscripts_510980.html" target=_top>http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/01/military_servic e_too_tough_for_one_in_five_conscripts_510980.html</a>
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