According to the US Army officials, soldier suicide rate this year may beat the record rate of last year. The officials urged the military leaders to double prevention efforts for the soldiers.

During this year, 62 confirmed suicide cases were found in active duty soldiers, Guard and Reserve troops who were called to active duty. Another 31 deaths seem suicide cases but they are still being investigated.

“If all these are found confirmed suicide cases, they would surpass the 115 suicide cases during the last year and even per 100,000 rate would beat the civilian population rate,” says Col. Eddie Stephens who is deputy director of human resource policy.

Army Secretary Pete Geren says in this connection: “Army leaders know well that repeated deployments become the cause of distress and anxiety for soldiers as well as their families.”

“The Army provides all sort of behavioral health care to all of its soldiers and their families that is required to them,” he adds

Brig. Gen Rhonda L. Cornum, who is an assistant Army surgeon general says that the Army has increased the number of staff psychiatrist, mental health staff and chaplains in its efforts to stop the increasing number of suicides in the US Army and its also starting a new interactive video program for troops that will be added in basic training starting in January.