Sat, Sep 6, 2008 (2:09 a.m.)

U.S. soldiers are still committing suicide at a record rate despite several mental health programs established by the Army in recent years.

Projections indicate the number of Army suicides in 2008 could surpass the record number of soldiers who died by their own hand last year.

As of Aug. 31, according to an Associated Press report, 55 regular Army soldiers were confirmed to have committed suicide, as well as four National Guard soldiers and three Reserve soldiers.

Additionally, 31 deaths of soldiers are being investigated as suspected suicides.

If those deaths are confirmed as suicides, the tragic pace this year could mean the total number of suicides would surpass the 115 confirmed Army suicides in 2007.

The Army has responded in a number of ways. It has hired more psychiatrists and other mental health workers. It has added chaplains and created a program to help soldiers cope with the strain Army life imposes on their personal relationships. Commanders have been trained in suicide prevention and awareness.

We support these and other programs the Army has put in place, but there may be only one truly effective solution, which is to reduce our military presence in Iraq. Of all the services, the Army has been the most stressed by this war.

Top Army officials have long acknowledged that repeated deployments and longer tours in combat zones are among the main factors contributing to soldier suicides.

“Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both soldiers and their families,” Army Secretary Pete Geren said last week.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is scheduled to testify Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee.

Members of the committee should ask him why we still have 146,000 troops in Iraq now that violence there has greatly subsided, the country’s own troops are taking the lead on security and the country’s democratically elected government has said it wants us to leave.