New data shows 154 suicides in the first 155 days of the year, up 18% from a year ago. Suicides outpaced the number of American casualties in Afghanistan by about 50%, the Associated Press reported. 

The Pentagon on Friday confirmed the January-May numbers. 

“The numbers reflect a military burdened with wartime demands from Iraq and Afghanistan that have taken a greater toll than foreseen a decade ago,” the AP wrote. “The military also is struggling with increased sexual assaults, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and other misbehavior.”

Navy Capt. John Kirby, in confirming the numbers, told reporters: “ “If you just compare this year’s numbers … compared to 10 years ago, they’ve doubled and each one is a tragedy.”

The trend in suicides for the first part of the year has been a “reliable predictor” for the full-year trend, based on data from the past five years, according to the AP, citing Pentagon data.