The U.S. Army’s Quest To Develop An Anti-Suicide Nasal Spray

By on August 22, 2012 in News 12

Soldier, the problem isn’t that you’re facing foreclosure on your home, physical disability, and PTSD, you just haven’t had you daily spritz of anti-suicide spray. Via Russia Today:

The US Army has awarded a scientist at the Indiana University School of Medicine $3 million to develop a nasal spray that eclipses suicidal thoughts. Dr. Michael Kubek and his research team will have three years to ascertain whether the nasal spray is a safe and effective method of preventing suicides.

The research grant comes after the Army lost 38 of its soldiers to suspected suicide in July, setting a record high. So far in 2012, the Army has confirmed 66 active duty suicides and is investigating 50 more, making a total of 116 cases.

But the naturally occurring neurochemical thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) could slow the rising suicide rate. The chemical has a euphoric, calming, antidepressant effect. TRH has been shown to decrease suicidal ideas, depression and bipolar disorders.

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  • rus Archer

    don’t die…. yet

  • Littlemisteramerica

    You don’t have the right to kill yourself, solider! That’s our right!

  • http://twitter.com/skylcort Tony G. Wax
    • Calypso_1

      Suicide, despite Mr. Schopenhauer waxing poetic upon the topic nearly two centuries ago, is not in the overwhelming majority of cases a result of some heroic philosophical disposition against the tragic melodrama of the universe.  Rather it is the culmination of an intense period of suffering in which the mind and body is ravaged as surely as any myriad other symptomatologies ill afforded by the degeneration of the body and its systems.

  • Nunzio X

    PENTAGON: Soldier, who said you can kill yourself? That’s the enemy’s job! Now drop and give me fifty!

    DISTRAUGHT SOLDIER: What. The. FUCK?

  • 6Blackie6

    Now if only they could create a nasal spray that would make them not want to kill innocent children!
    Or a suppository allowing empathy. Or maybe a sub-lingual promoting peace.

    • Amy McLaughlin

      I don’t know any soldiers who want to kill children, whether innocent or not. We are also capable of empathy. Some of us are even borderline pacifists. I know it is hard to believe, but it is true, nonetheless. Be careful of projecting a stereotype onto a group of people you don’t even know.

      ~16-year veteran and peace-loving, child-loving empath. 

      • 6Blackie6

         Soldiers kill people-It’s not a stereotype it’s the truth. And it turns out that a lot of those killed are children. If we had no soldiers we would have no war!  Pacifists don’t join the military. What is a borderline pacifist? One who kills but doesn’t enjoy it?
         Next you’re going to tell me that cops are kind, gentle souls out to protect and serve the public. Ha.

      • Jin The Ninja

        i am not the original OP, nor do i agree with their line of reasoning, but i must call bullshit on you. ‘borderline pacifist’ !?!? what does that even mean? you support bloody state interests at war, but volunteer at your soup kitchen at home?

  • Jeffery Allen

    Expecting a suicidal person to inject a nasal spray when he is at his/her  lowest point is like leading a horse to water and trying to make it drink.

  • Infvocuernos

    Anti -suicide chemicals up your nose?  What a novel idea.

  • Crudelia13

    My two-bit opinion: personally, I like this. I battled life-long with my bipolarity. I know that when I am down, even if I feel like it’s the lowest, it-will-pass, eventually; but it is hard. So I grit my teeth and wait; sometimes days, sometimes weeks, once, three months. This, I would gladly try out if it were available; a respite from my personal hell. Aspirine for my mind.