New York: The US army witnessed the highest number of suicides in more than two decades last year when at least 115 soldiers killed themselves, partly because of the stress of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Another 53 suicides were reported from National Guards and Reservists who were not deployed. Besides, there were 935 suicides attempts last year, according to latest statistics released by the army.
In 2006, the number of soldiers who took their own lives was 102 and the suicide rate was up by more than 12 per cent the next year which made it 18.8 per 100,000 soldiers.
The army had started keeping record in 1980 and this was the highest number recorded since then. That stress of war might a major contributing factor is clear from the fact that army reported 85 suicides in 2005, 67 in 2004 and 79 in 2003.
So far this year, 38 suicides have been confirmed.
About one in four soldiers committed suicide during the first deployment and 43 per cent took their lives after coming home. Only 7 per cent of soldiers who committed suicide were deployed for more than one time and 26 per cent were never deployed. Thus army said the suicides do not show link with repeated deployments.
The army took solace from the fact that despite increase in the suicide rate, the number remained below the civilian rate of 19.5 per 100,000
There are about 1.08 million troops serving in the army, comprising 525,000 on active duty, 194,000 in the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard s 356,000.
