The Army says soldier suicides this year are almost sure to top last year's, but adds that progress is on the horizon.

A Pentagon press conference was held Tuesday to discuss the latest number of soldier suicides.

So far in 2009 140 soldiers are believed to have died of self-inflicted wounds.

That's the same as were confirmed for all of 2008 but officials add that huge monthly numbers reported in January and February have tapered off and that the trend is mostly downward since March.

The Army is making an unprecedented effort at working with soldiers through new programs.

At Ft. Campbell alone 18 soldiers committed suicide in 2009 with 11 of those taking place in the first four months of the year.