Army officials say they appear to be getting a handle on the problem, but they also admit that suicides among soldiers this year will likely top last year's pace.

Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli said today the 140 confirmed suicides by soldiers this year is equal to last year's total. However Chiarelli says the pace of those deaths has tapered off in recent months following a surge in January and February.

Chiarelli uses the situation at Fort Campbell in Kentucky as an example. He says of 18 confirmed suicides this year, 11 occurred in the first four months of 2009.

He credits efforts the Army has made through new programs for soldiers, including a widened suicide prevention in March.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)