Army suicides reported at 2-decade high
Pastor Dale Morgan
Army suicides reported at 2-decade high*
By PAULINE JELINEK,
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials say there were fewer Army suicides last
year than they had feared. But it was still the highest number in almost
two decades.
Two defense officials said Thursday that 108 troops committed suicide in
2007, the most since 1990. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity
because the full report on the deaths wasn't being released until later
Thursday.
Preliminary figures released in January showed as many as 121 troops
killed themselves, but a number of the deaths were still being
investigated then.
Suicides have been rising. The 108 last year followed 102 in 2006 and 85
in 2005.
The increases come despite a host of efforts to improve the mental
health of a force stressed by lengthy and repeated deployments to Iraq.