Washington ( CNN ) -- The Obama administration announced Wednesday that it will begin sending condolence letters to the next-of-kin of service members who commit suicide , said a White House statement . `` This issue is emotional , painful , and complicated , '' President Barack Obama said in the statement . `` But these Americans served our nation bravely ... we need to do everything in our power to honor their service , and to help them stay strong for themselves , for their families and for our nation . '' The move comes nearly six weeks after a group of senators -- 10 Democrats and one Republican -- asked President Barack Obama to change what they called an `` insensitive '' policy that dates back several administrations . U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer led the bipartisan group and was pleased with the administration 's policy change . `` This will ... do a great deal to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health treatment that prevents so many from seeking the care they need , '' she said in a statement Wednesday . The lack of condolence letters in instances of suicide has been the subject of protest by some military families . `` It 's bittersweet , '' said Gregg Keesling , father to Army Spc . Chancellor Keesling , who killed himself while serving in Iraq . `` It does not bring our son back , but I think it does send a powerful message that mental health in our military can be addressed . '' CNN first reported in 2009 about the family of Army Spc . Keesling . The family set up a wall to pay tribute to Keesling in their Indiana home . Along with his uniform and the flag from his burial service , a space was left for the expected condolence letter from the commander in chief . Upset when they learned a suicide did not merit a letter from the president , Gregg Keesling wrote to the president and the Army chief of staff requesting the policy be changed . He argued that his son 's suicide was a result of what he was exposed to during war and that it deserved to be considered caused by battle . `` They did n't die because they were weak , '' said the president 's statement . `` And the fact that they did n't get the help they needed must change . '' According to an Army report last year , annual suicide rates in the Marine Corps and the Army -- the two branches most involved in combat operations in Iraq and Afganistan -- increased steadily between 2004 and 2009 , to more than 20 per 100,000 people . During that time the rate for those two branches surpassed the age-adjusted , national civilian average , whereas suicide rates for the Air Force and Navy stayed below the national average . In 2001 , the suicide rate among Marines , like the Air Force and Navy , was about half the civilian rate , and the Army 's , while higher than the other three branches , was still below the civilian rate , according to the Army report . CNN 's Adam Levine contributed to this report .
Decision will help end `` stigma '' of wars ' mental health toll , says senator . Score: 6 Army report showed a steady rise in 2004-2009 Army and Marine suicide rates .