Army Suicides Reach Alarming Highs
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Army announced on Thursday that more of its service members took their own lives during July than in any month in recent memory.
According to an analysis, there were 38 suicides or suspected suicides, with 26 involving active-duty soldiers in the Army — a new monthly high — and 12 among National Guard or Reserve soldiers who were not on active-duty service.
Another disturbing finding: the suicide rate in the Army is up 22 percent in 2012 from the same period last year. So far, there have been 116 deaths compared to 95 among active-duty soldiers during the first seven months of 2011.
One Army analyst says that breaks down to a rate of 29 deaths per 100,000 in the Army in 2012. The national rate of suicides in the civilian population is 18.5 per 100,000.
According to the Army, the number of veterans dying by their own hand has exceeded newly-minted soldiers this year.
One possible reason for the alarming rise in suicides may have to do with troops having a hard time adjusting to their previous lives at home after having served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio