Suicide rates in the U.S. Army have reached the highest level since 1980, according to a new study released Thursday.

In a report, the Army said the confirmed rate of suicides among soldiers was 20.2 per 100,000 as of last year, the highest since the service began to track suicide statistics in 1980.

It is also higher than the national suicide rate, which is at 19.5 per 100,000.

The number of soldiers who committed suicide has risen continuously in recent years.

There were 128 confirmed suicides last year and an additional 15 suspected suicides.

In 2007, the Army reported 115 confirmed suicides.

The Army has long cited personal stress, including financial, relationship and substance-abuse problems as the major reason for suicides, but it is also studying the impact of war experience.

Many of the recent suicides occurred after troops returned home.

The Army is expected to launch a new effort to study the problem to determine why its suicide-prevention programs are not working.

Source: Xinhua