US will honour soldiers who take their own life in combat zones

The White House has said that it will reverse a long-standing policy of not sending condolence letters to the families of members of the armed forces who take their own life while in combat zones.

Announcing the change of protocol, Barack Obama said the change would honour such soldiers in the same way as those who are killed on active duty, in recognition of the trauma linked to fighting in conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This issue is emotional, painful, and complicated, but these Americans served our nation bravely. They didn't die because they were weak. And the fact that they didn't get the help they needed must change," he said in a statement.

"Our men and women in uniform have borne the incredible burden of our wars, and we need to do everything in our power to honour their service, and to help them stay strong for themselves, for their families and for our nation."

The president has tried to bring attention to what he described as "the unseen wounds of war", including brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety that some soldiers experience in conflict and when they return home, Reuters reports.

General Peter Chiarelli, army vice chief of staff, welcomed the move as as "a monumental step" to eliminate the stigma associated with the mental disorders associated with combat, as well as the tragedy of suicide.

According to a report last year, between 2004 and 20091 one hundred service men and women killed, including veterans who did so when they had returned home.