The number of suicides in the U.S. military this year will exceed last year’s figure

The number of suicides in the U.S. military this year will be higher than in the past, said Tuesday the deputy chief of staff Peter Chiarelli (Peter Chiarelli).

According to available data, the number of suicides in 2009 had already reached the level of last year, 140 deaths, though the year has not yet been completed. “Almost certainly this year will be more suicides than in the past. It’s terrible, but I can not understate this number”, – said Chiarelli.

The general cautioned against generalizing the causes of suicide or assumptions that they are connected with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He noted that the causes of suicide are not always obvious, and about a third of the soldiers committed suicide, never served overseas.