Army Suicides Double in July From June Total

The Army says suicides among active-duty soldiers more than doubled in July from the month before.

That marks an acceleration of a military-wide trend this year that has caused Pentagon leaders to step up their search for solutions to a problem that has worsened in 2012 as the pace of combat has eased.

The Army had 26 suicides in July among active-duty soldiers, compared to 12 in June. In May it had 16.

Among Army Reserve soldiers not on active duty, there were 12 suicides in July -- the same as in June.

For the first seven months of 2012, the Army has recorded 116 suicides among active-duty soldiers. If that pace were maintained through December the year's total would approach 200, compared to 167 for all of 2011.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)