More U.S. soldiers on active duty committed suicide than died in combat last year, shocking new figures reveal

More American soldiers on active duty committed suicide than were killed in combat last year, with the suicide rate rising by nine per cent over the last three years.



177 soldiers on active duty killed themselves in 2012 - almost one suicide every other day - compared to 176 killed in action.

Department for Defense figures show in 2011 165 active soldiers committed suicide and 156 killed themselves in 2010.

'An outrage': More soldiers committed suicide this year than were killed in active service in Afghanistan. 177 killed themselves while on active duty while 176 died in combat

The number increases even further when the number of reserve soldier suicides are included.



In 2012 there have been 126 suicides reserve members of the army - an increase from 118 in 2011, official figures show.

It means 303, in total, died as a result of suicide - almost one soldier a day.



Many families of suicide victims have criticized the armed services for not doing enough to support those with mental health issues.

In 2009 Michael Ecker shot himself in his parent's backyard after returning from the war in Iraq - his father watched helplessly as he died.



Calls for action: Matt and Cheryl Ecker (left) were disappointed by the official response to their son's mental health problems while he was on active service. Michael, 25, (right) killed himself once he returned to their home in Ohio from Iraq

A week before he committed suicide in Champion, Ohio, he had received a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs accusing him of over-reporting the extent of his mental health issues.

'I've often thought about finding that doctor and saying, ''Over-reporting?!'' and giving him the death certificate,' Matt Ecker said in an interview at the time.

The explanations for the increase in suicide among members of the armed forces are varied.



Studies have pointed to combat exposure, post-traumatic stress, misuse of prescription medications and personal financial problems.

Kim Ruocco, widow of Marine Major John Ruocco, a helicopter pilot who hanged himself in 2005 between Iraq deployments, said he was unable to bring himself to go for help.



'He was so afraid of how people would view him once he went for help,' she said.



'Epidemic of suicide': There has been a nine per cent increase in the number of active U.S. army servicemen committing suicide since 2009. Congressmen have called for more funding for prevention programs for 2013

'He thought that people would think he was weak, that people would think he was just trying to get out of redeploying or trying to get out of service, or that he just couldn't hack it - when, in reality, he was sick.



'He had suffered injury in combat and he had also suffered from depression and let it go untreated for years. And because of that, he's dead today.'

Two congressmen Rep. Jim McDermott and Rep Leonard Boswell have campaigned to increase Pentagon efforts in tackling the rising problem of suicide in the army.



'The Pentagon is funded to help soldiers and needs to do much more on the epidemic of suicides,' Congressman McDermott said earlier this year.



In a statement released by the Department of Defense alongside the figures, the Army's Major General Donald L. Rutherford, Chief of Chaplains said they were working to ' reduce stigma' and encourage soldiers to seek help.



'As part of the Army’s team-based and holistic approach to suicide prevention and stigma reduction, Army chaplains remain committed to fostering a resilient and ready force by enhancing strength, reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking behaviors,' he said.



'Making a dent': The Department for Defense claims it is starting to combat the growing issue of suicide among troops. More on active service committed suicide this year than were killed in battle

'Our soldiers, families and civilians are our most precious resource, and the chaplaincy embodies the best of our Army values when it proclaims hope, embraces community, and stands with those who feel they stand alone.'

Jackie Garrick, acting director of the DOD suicide prevention office told NBCNews.com.

'We have seen several programs that we are optimistic are going to start making a dent in this issue,' she said .

'We’ve asked all of the services to use the same messaging, the same talking points. So the Army, included in that, is trying to adapt and promote those same messages because we realize that this is an across-the-board problem.'

Barack Obama said suicide prevention was a priority when he talked about veterans issues on the campaign trial in 2008.