"It's good ideas - experts think that this is what we need to do - but we do not have any evidence that that training actually in fact prevents suicide," he said.

The new three-year project, funded by the Army, will develop a network of researchers to study multiple aspects of suicide, look at the work of other studies and then compile a database so other researchers and people running suicide-prevention programs can see what is effective.

More than 1,100 U.S. servicemen and women killed themselves between 2005 and 2009.

In July, the Army announced a $50 million study of suicide and mental health involving about 500,000 service members and four other research institutions. That is separate from this initiative, which will be directed by the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Denver and Florida State University.

http://www.ravallirepublic.com/news/national/article_0d0fab22-e1fd-11df-a33e-001cc4c002e0.html