U.S. Army To Shatter Record In Suicides

The suspected cases of Army suicides among active duty soldiers reported this year have reached 140, according to a top general.

 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The suspected cases of Army suicides among active duty soldiers reported this year have reached 140, according to a top general.

That’s well on the way to be a new record.

“We are almost certainly going to end the year higher than last year,” said General Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff.

One third of those suicides were of soldiers about to be deployed overseas, he added.

The reason for the rising rate was unclear.

However, the Army has started suicide prevention programs that “are making some progress,” he noted.

A downward trend in suicides started in March, he said, after a January and February that saw 40 suicides.

The AFP report, though, failed to specify exactly the nature of the suicide prevention program.