American Soldiers in Afghanistan: Suicide Deaths Nearly Equal Combat Deaths

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  • There were 197 Army suicides in 2008, according to the Army’s numbers. The total includes active- and non-active-duty soldiers.
  • Last year, the number was 245.
  • This year, through May, it’s already 163.

The Army has instituted many programs to counsel and train soldiers  with a goal of suicide prevention. Several of them have failed. Often, as soldiers transitioned from one assignment to another, the new station was unaware of past mental health issues.

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Source: U.S. military branches (2001-09) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (latest figures through 2006)