US Army seeks to stem suicides

US Army seeks to stem suicides

By Jane O'Brien
Washington DC



Half a million soldiers are being asked to take part in the biggest ever investigation into the number of suicides in the US armed forces.

Last year, 143 soldiers killed themselves and there were 113 suicides in the other armed services - the highest number since records began 30 years ago.

Already this year there have been more than 100 reported suicides among soldiers on active duty.

During the study, set to take three years, new recruits will be asked for personal information that will be used for psychological assessments.

Researchers will also interview serving soldiers. Some will be asked to provide saliva and blood samples to try to establish whether there is a genetic reason why some people are more likely than others to take their own lives.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8227931.stm