U.S. Troop Suicide Rate Increasing

Concern mounts over rising troop suicides
February 3, 2008 -- Updated 1334 GMT (2134 HKT)


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Every day, five U.S. soldiers try to kill themselves. Before the Iraq war began, that figure was less than one suicide attempt a day.

The dramatic increase is revealed in new U.S. Army figures, which show 2,100 soldiers tried to commit suicide in 2007.

"Suicide attempts are rising and have risen over the last five years," said Col. Elspeth Cameron-Ritchie, an Army psychiatrist.





from the article: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/02/01/military.suicides/index.html