People in the Army have been committing suicide at a higher rate than last year. The record for suicides is set to be broken this year by Army servicemen:

The number of suicides among active- duty U.S. Army troops this year reached 133 in October, 18 more than in the same period last year and putting the service within reach of a new annual high. The 133 reported suicides, including the National Guard and Reserves, between January and October compared with 115 during the same period in 2008 when the service recorded 140 by year’s end, an annual record, the Army said in a statement.

The rate of suicide within the Army last year was 20.2 per 100,000 personnel, exceeding for the first time the age-adjusted rate in the civilian population, which was 19.2, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The institute has paired with the Army to undertake the biggest study ever of suicide and behavioral health among military personnel.

The Army has taken extra steps in the past year to prevent suicides as the number of cases began to alarm officials. Measures include training, a suicide prevention task force and a day of standing down from official duties to focus on suicide prevention. The “stigma” of acknowledging the need for counseling “continues to be one of the most difficult challenges we confront,” Brigadier General Colleen McGuire, director of the Suicide Prevention Task Force, said in the statement.

“The more we educate our Army community about the need to get help, the need to get it early and that a full recovery is often possible” from stress, the sooner that stigma will disappear, she said.

The Army also paired with the National Institute of Mental Health to begin the biggest study ever of suicide and behavioral health among military personnel.

Post-Traumatic (War)  Stress Disorder is real.

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Mister Jenkins (Miss J) has a new book out talking about his experiences being a flaming fruit cup as well as his poor upbringing. You would also be surprised to know that “J” is a dad and his little fella sounds like he is taking after him:

“A French lesbian had asked if [my ex boyfriend and I] would be… …sperm donors,” Alexander revealed on The Tyra Banks Show on Tuesday. “So we did a little test tube.”

Though his ex is the biological father of 7-year-old Boris, in his new book, Follow the Model, Alexander said, “We are all actively involved in rearing Boris, and the experience has enriched my life beyond imagination.”

“He’s an incredibly smart child. He was toilet trained at a year and three months.  He refuses to drink out of plastic and will use only glass,” said Alexander. “He insists on wearing nice shoes.  I think somehow my fashion genes must have slipped in there.”

Jesus… take the wheel for that child.