Fort Hood Struggles with Suicides

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) _ Fort Hood’s senior commander says there is no single reason why soldiers take their own lives.

But Maj. Gen. William Grimsley says soldiers who commit suicide often are struggling with multiple deployments and problems with relationships and finances.

So far this year, 14 confirmed suicides and six more suspected suicides — including four in the past week — have been reported among soldiers stationed at Fort Hood. That’s according to figures released by the Army Suicide Prevention Task Force.

The Army reported 11 suicides of Fort Hood soldiers in 2009, down from the previous record high of 14 in 2008.

Grimsley says the central Texas Army post Fort Hood will focus more on training soldiers how to recognize at-risk troops and how to help them.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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