Japan's Defense Ministry says 56 active members of the Self-Defense Forces committed suicide following deployments to Iraq and the Indian Ocean.

The statistics are contained in a cabinet-approved government document compiled in response to an inquiry from an opposition lawmaker.

Of the 56 deaths, the Defense Ministry attributes 14 to psychological illnesses, 7 to family troubles, and 6 to financial problems. It says just 3 of the suicides were related to official duties. The ministry says the rest of the cases had other causes, or their reasons are unknown.

The Self-Defense Forces now provide psychological support to members who return from overseas deployments. The Defense Ministry says it also plans to implement suicide-prevention measures.

bbabo.Net