Army reports 18 more suspected suicides last month

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090305/army-suicides/

Army reports 18 more suspected suicides last month

March 5, 2009 12:52 PM EST | AP


WASHINGTON — After an alarming spike in soldier suicides in January, the Army says there were another 18 suspected suicides last month.

The Army normally releases figures on self-inflicted deaths only once a year. But due to the large number of 24 in January, officials are announcing monthly figures to help focus attention on the problem and on prevention.

Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli says there were two confirmed suicides in February and 16 suspected but still being investigated across the active duty, guard and reserve. Usually the vast majority of suspected suicides are eventually confirmed.

Colonel Thomas Languirand, chief of army suicide prevention, says the service is doing everything it can think of to bring the number down.