Marine Corps suicides on near-record pace

MILITARY: Marine Corps suicides on near-record pace
Seven self-inflicted deaths in May raise this year's toll to 21
By MARK WALKER

Seven U.S. Marines killed themselves in May, raising the number of self-inflicted deaths this year to 21 and continuing a trend that saw a record 52 troop suicides in 2009.

An additional 89 among the service's 202,000 men and women have attempted suicide this year, including 15 in May, according to a report from the Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Program in Washington.

Despite a host of outreach efforts, the numbers continue to rise, surpassing the rate of 20 per 100,000 in the civilian population and that for all the other services.

In 2009, the Marine Corps' rate reached 24 per 100,000, according to service statistics. The Army's rate last year was 22 per 100,000 while the Air Force's was 15.5 and the Navy's was 13.3.

The 21 suicides this year compare with 55 Marine combat deaths in Afghanistan since Jan. 1, underscoring the breadth of the problem.
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Marine Corps suicides on near-record pace