美国国防部发布的最新数据显示，2012年美军现役士兵自杀率明显攀升，几乎每天都有一名士兵自杀。截止2012年6月3日，本年度自杀的现役士兵人数已达154人，比去年同期高出24人，同时也高于同时期阵亡的士兵人数。美国国防部发言人表示，自杀是他们目前面临的最紧迫的问题之一。她指出，士兵自杀的原因尚不明确，不过有数据显示，多次参与作战行动的士兵更容易自杀；但同时，他们也发现，自杀的士兵中有相当一部分从未参与过作战行动。这位发言人表示，为了帮助士兵解决心理问题，美国军方早在几年前就开同了加密的心理咨询热线。但军队里的大部分人，包括将领，都认为，寻求心理援助是懦弱的表现，致使很多人的心理疾患未能得到及时排解。

As of 3 June, 2012 active-duty suicides reached 154, compared with 130 in the same period last year, the Pentagon confirmed to the BBC.

Suicide in the US military has sharply increased this year, hitting a rate of almost one death per day, figures show.

As of 3 June, 2012 active-duty suicides reached 154, compared with 130 in the same period last year, the Pentagon confirmed to the BBC.

The number far exceeds US combat deaths for the same period.

"We are deeply concerned about suicide in the military," a Pentagon spokeswoman said, adding it was "one of the most urgent problems" they faced.

While the reasons for the increase are not entirely understood, the Defence department's own data suggest soldiers with multiple combat tours are at greater risk. But a portion of those taking their own life have never deployed, the figures show.

Suicide in the forces had levelled off during 2010 and 2011, but 2012 has seen the fastest pace since the US war in Afghanistan began in 2001.

Strength or weakness?

News of the suicide rate increase comes despite years of effort by the US military to encourage troops to seek help for mental health problems.

Those efforts include setting up confidential telephone hotlines and placing more mental health specialists near the battlefield.

But reports suggest that some in the military continue to believe that going for help is seen as a sign of weakness.

Last month, Major General Dana Pittard, a commander in the 1st Armored Division, retracted an Army blog post made in January in which he told soldiers considering suicide to "act like an adult".

Gen Pittard also counselled soldiers to seek help, but his remarks drew public rebuke from top military officials, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey.

Gen Dempsey said he disagreed with Gen Pittard "in the strongest possible terms", the Associated Press reported.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told the BBC that "suicide prevention is first and foremost a leadership responsibility".

"Seeking help is a sign of strength," she added.

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(Agencies)

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）