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US Army Releases Figures on Suicides in June

   VOA News 17 July 2010
   US Army soldier from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion of the 508 Parachute
   Infantry  Regiment  of the 82nd Airborne, climbs over high wall during
   patrol  in  volatile  Arghandab Valley, outside Kandahar City, 10 July
   2010

Photo: AP

   US Army soldier from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion of the 508 Parachute
   Infantry  Regiment  of the 82nd Airborne, climbs over high wall during
   patrol  in  volatile  Arghandab Valley, outside Kandahar City, 10 July
   2010

   The  U.S.  Army has released new statistics indicating a record number
   of suicides occurred in the month of June.
   Military  officials  said Thursday that last month, 32 soldiers either
   killed  themselves  or  were  believed  to  have done so.  The figure
   includes  21  soldiers on active duty as well as 11 people in the Army
   reserves or National Guard.
   The Army also says there were 88 suicides among active duty members in
   the  first  six months of last year.  In the first half of this year,
   the Army reported 80 suicides among active duty members.
   Also  Thursday,  the  Army  released  a  new  video that addresses the
   subject  of  suicides.   Officials  say it includes testimonials from
   soldiers who have struggled with the urge to take their own lives.

   Last  year,  experts said soldiers are under tremendous, unprecedented
   stress  because  of  repeated deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.  A
   2007  study  found  the  most  common triggers include failed personal
   relationships, legal and financial problems, and job stress.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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