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December 2, 2008 11:43:40 AM CST

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Army Lapses Led to Suicide of Mentally Ill Soldier

Posted Dec 20, 07 12:50 PM CST in US 

(Newser) – Depressed and constantly reprimanded by his superiors, Pfc. Jason Scheuerman shot himself in his Iraq barracks in 2005—raising serious questions about how the military handles mental illness, the AP reports. Scheuerman's was one of a record 152 Army suicides in Afghanistan and Iraq, but his parents had to fight a reluctant military to piece together what led to their son’s death.

Documents and interviews showed that Scheuerman seemed “out of touch with reality,” and showed “depression-like symptoms." An army chaplain watched him “bobbing his head on the muzzle” of his gun, but a psychologist sent him back, suggesting he could be exaggerating illness to avoid duty. "The people that I trusted with the safety of my son killed him," says Scheuerman's dad.

Source Associated Press

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Chris Scheuerman reviews a copy of a medical questionnaire in Sanford, N.C., Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, that his son Jason answered before he took his life while serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army in Iraq....   (Associated Press)
Chris Scheuerman and his wife, Anne, talk about their son Jason, in photo, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Sanford, N.C., Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Jonathan Fredin)   (Associated Press)
Chris Scheuerman cleans a wooden box containing the presentation of the American Flag and bearing the name of his deceased son, Jason, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Sanford, N.C. (AP Photo/Jonathan Fredin)   (Associated Press)
Chris Scheuerman comforts his wife, Anne, while the couple reminisce about their son Jason, in photo, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Sanford, N.C. (AP Photo/Jonathan Fredin)   (Associated Press)
Chris Scheuerman and his wife, Anne, talk about their son Jason,(pictured at left, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Sanford, N.C. (AP Photo/Jonathan Fredin)   (Associated Press)
Chris Scheuerman is seen in Sanford, N.C., Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. Scheuerman believes the U.S. Army should be held responsible for not preventing the suicide of his son Jason, who served in Iraq. (AP...   (Associated Press)
Anne Scheuerman is seen in Sanford, N.C., Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. Scheuerman and her husband, Chris, believe the U.S. Army should be held responsible for not preventing the suicide of his son Jason, who...   (Associated Press)
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Iraq • Afghanistan • US Army • suicide • depression • mental illness • Iraq death toll


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