On June 23, a U.S. Army sergeant shot and killed himself outside an Alameda, Calif. recruitment office.
On July 14, the Army released suicide data for the month of June.
There were 21 potential suicides among active duty soldiers, twice as much as in May when 10 soldiers reportedly killed themselves.
Among reserve soldiers, authorities are still investigating 11 suicides committed in June, which is just slightly down from 13 suicides the month before.
"Our suicide prevention efforts must continue to be directed at all members of the Army family – our soldiers, department of the Army civilians and families – during the busy summertime transition period," said Col. Chris Philbrick, the director of the Army Suicide Prevention Task Force.
Army suicides are on the rise. The Army's total for the first half of calendar year 2009 was 88 for active duty and 42 for reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty. For the first half of 2010, the totals were 80 for active duty and 65 for soldiers in the reserves.
The military has several suicide prevention and coping programs aimed at assisting soldiers and their families. Last week, President Barack Obama announced that changes would soon be coming making it easier for war-zone veterans to receive disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder.
In his weekly radio address, Obama said not enough of today’s vets "receive the screening and treatment they need."
While the new policy may help thousands of American soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, many military members may still slip through the cracks.
Alameda police say they do not believe the sergeant who took his own life in the city was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as he had not recently served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"The crucial elements are still caring, concern and decisive leadership. There will never be a substitute for a non-commissioned officer, first-line supervisor or friend who knows when a person is suffering and has the moral courage to act and get that individual the help they need. That ability to make a positive difference is the best method to render effective suicide prevention in the Army," Philbrick said.
Alameda police Sgt. Pat Wyeth told the San Jose Mercury News that the man, who was in his twenties, appeared to be stable.
"There was no indication that he was planning to do anything like this,” Wyeth said.
The sergeant, who police have yet to identify, leaves behind a child in Canada.
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