Military suicides increasing: Almost 1 a day

  

June 22, 2012 (WLS) -- The military is seeing an increasing number of suicides. Pentagon statistics show the rate is about one suicide per day this year.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says commanding officers should emphasize that seeking help for the stresses of war is a sign of strength, not weakness.

"We are a family, and by God, we have to take care of our family members," Panetta said. "That's just not Italian, that's American."

Panetta was addressing mental health professionals who are focused on reducing the number of suicides by veterans and soldiers.

Panetta called the problem one of the most challenging ones he has faced on the job.

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