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Updated September 5, 2019
Military Suicide Prevention and Response
Background
greatly differ in terms of age and sex—the military services
When a service member dies by suicide, those close to the
are disproportionately comprised of younger individuals
member often experience shock, anger, guilt, and sorrow.
and more males—sub-populations at higher risk for suicide.
As such, a service member’s suicide may adversely impact
For CY2017, DOD found that after adjusting for age and
the wellbeing of his or her family and friends. Further, it
sex, the suicide rates for Active and Reserve members are
may affect the morale and readiness of his or her unit. The
military’s r
close to what would be expected if the military had the
esponse to suicidal thoughts (ideation), attempts,
same age and sex composition as the U.S. general
and deaths involves coordinated efforts among command
population. However, DOD has reported that the rate of
and unit leadership, medical professionals, counselors, and
suicide for the National Guard was higher than expected
others across the military community.
relative to the general population.
Under the authority given to Congress in Article 1, Section
8 of the U.S. Constitution, to raise and support armies,
Table 1. Unadjusted Suicide Mortality Rates by
provide and maintain a navy, and provide for organizing
Service and Component, 2012-2017
disciplining and regulating them, Congress strives to
(rate per 100,000 personnel)
understand the scope of this issue as it pertains to the
military, the efforts previously taken to address it, and the
Service
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
considerations for confronting it in the future.
Active
Defense Suicide Prevention Office
22.9
18.5
20.4
20.2
21.5
21.9
Total
The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO),
Army
29.9
22.5
24.6
24.4
27.4
24.3
established in 2011, is the office responsible for “advocacy,
program oversight, and policy for Department of Defense
Air Force
15
14.4
19.1
20.5
19.4
19.3
(DOD) suicide prevention, intervention and postvention
Navy
18.1
12.7
16.6
13.1
15.9
20.1
efforts to reduce suicidal behaviors in service members,
civilians and their families.” The office also manages a 24-
Marine
24.3
23.1
17.9
21.2
20.1
23.4
hour Military Crisis Line, produces an annual DOD Suicide
Corps
Event Report (DoDSER), and compiles quarterly DOD
Reserve
military suicide reports.
19.3
22.8
21.6
24.7
22.0
25.7
Total
Prevalence Rates
Army
24.7
29.6
21.4
27.7
20.6
32.1
In calendar year (CY) 2017, DOD reported 515 service
Reserve
member suicides. There were 286 suicides in the Active
Air Force
Component (AC) (21.9 per 100,000), 93 in the Reserves
nr
nr
nr
nr
nr
nr
Reserve
(25.7 per 100,000), and 136 in the National Guard (29.1 per
100,000) (see Table 1). While suicide remains a low
Navy
incidence event, military suicide rates grew substantially in
nr
nr
nr
nr
nr
nr
Reserve
the early 2000s, peaking for the active component in 2012.
For the past few years of reported data, suicide rates in the
Marine
Army active and reserve components have been
Corps
nr
nr
nr
nr
nr
nr
consistently higher than the other services. In addition, the
Reserve
Army National Guard suicide rate has been consistently
Natl Guard 28.1
28.9
19.8
27.5
27.3
29.1
higher than the other components. There is some evidence
Total
of an upward trend in suicide rates for the Air Force and Air
Force Reserve. Rates for the other services and components
Army
30.8
33.7
21.8
29.8
31.6
34.6
have not exhibited any discernable trends.
Guard
Air Guard
19.1
nr
nr
19.9
nr
nr
Comparison to the General Population
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Source: Compiled by CRS from DOD Suicide Event Reports.
(CDC), the suicide mortality rate for the U.S. general
Notes: Rates for subgroups with fewer than 20 suicides are not
population was 14.0 per 100,000 in 2017: markedly lower
reported (nr) by DOD due to statistical instability.
than the 2017 AC rate of 21.7 per 100,000. However,
comparisons between military and civilian populations can
be misleading because of differences in suicide reporting
methods used by CDC and DOD. Also, these populations
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 Military Suicide Prevention and Response
Military-Specific Suicide Risk Factors
These actions have included strengthening DOD oversight
While military service members are already a high-risk
and increasing data collection, reporting, and analysis.
population for suicide due to the demographic composition,
Other legislation has sought to improve outreach,
the exposure to unique demands of military service are also
awareness, and resiliency, particularly among certain
associated with greater risk factors for this population:
military communities deemed to be at high risk for suicide.
Mental Health Conditions and Disorders. Exposure to
Table 2. Selected Legislation, FY2011-FY2019
combat and high-stress environments is associated with
higher rates of mental health diagnoses, such as depression,
Authority
Action
anxiety disorders, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD). Rates of these conditions and disorders among
FY2011 NDAA Required DOD to establish a task force to
military service members rose steadily from 2005 to 2015,
(P.L. 110-417)
examine suicide prevention and develop a
according to the DOD Deployment Health Clinical Center.
comprehensive suicide prevention policy.
Head Trauma/Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Research
FY2012 NDAA Required DOD to enhance its suicide
shows increased suicide ideation, attempt, and death rates
(P.L. 112-81)
prevention program in cooperation with other
among people who have experienced head trauma.
government stakeholders and to include
Deployed military members may sustain concussive injuries
suicide prevention information in pre-
as a result of explosive blasts. According to the Defense
separation counseling.
and Veterans Brain Injury Center, 17,841 service members
FY2013 NDAA Established a DOD oversight position for
were diagnosed with TBI in 2017.
(P.L. 112-239)
suicide prevention and resilience programs
Substance Abuse and Associated Disorders. Evidence
and expanded programs to RC members and
indicates elevated risk of death by suicide among people
their families.
with substance-use disorders, including heavy alcohol use.
Amended Section 1062 of the FY2011 NDAA
While illicit drug use is not prevalent in the military,
to allow a member's health professional or
surveys have shown that a higher percentage of military
commanding officer to inquire if the member
personnel report heavy alcohol use compared to similar
owns or plans to acquire any weapons if
civilian cohorts. Among service members, drug and alcohol
reasonable belief exists that the member is at
overdoses are the most common methods for suicide
high risk for suicide or harm to others.
attempts.
FY2015 NDAA Required DOD to prescribe standards for
Access to Firearms. Studies have shown that access to
(P.L. 113-291)
data col ection and reporting related to
firearms is associated with increased risk of death by
suicides and suicide attempts and directed
suicide. Service members generally have more exposure to
DOD to conduct a review of suicide
firearms than the civilian population and are more likely to
prevention programs for Special Operations
own a personal firearm. Firearms are the most common
Forces (SOF).
method of suicide deaths among military populations,
accounting for 65% of all CY2017 suicides.
FY2016 NDAA Authorized DOD to develop a policy to
(P.L. 114-92)
coordinate its efforts with non-governmental
Funding
suicide prevention groups and expanded
Congress funds DOD suicide prevention programs and
outreach to separating service members.
research through its annual defense appropriation. Suicide
Source: CRS consolidation of relevant legislation.
prevention research is primarily funded through the
Defense Health Program and, in the past, has received
Considerations for Congress
additional funds through the Congressionally Directed
Oversight questions for Congress with regard to military
Medical Research Program (CDMRP). In FY2019,
suicide and resiliency may include:
Congress appropriated $125 million for the CDMRP’s
psychological health and TBI research portfolio, which
How can research be better disseminated and brought
includes the Military Suicide Research Consortium. In
into practice?
FY2019, the Psychological Health Center of Excellence
(PHCoE) was appropriated $1.42 million. PHCoE focuses
On what aspects of the issue should future
on conducted research and integrating evidence-based
congressionally funded research efforts focus?
treatments to address mental health conditions, including
What gaps, if any, remain in DOD, service-level, or
suicide. The President’s FY2020 Budget Request includes
interagency suicide prevention programs?
$9.3 million to fund DSPO, up from $8.7 million in
FY2019. The military services, components, and activities,
What factors contribute to differences in suicide rates
also fund suicide prevention and resiliency activities, as
among the services and components?
part of family and community support programs, through
Are high-risk military members and communities being
their Operation and Maintenance budget (e.g., the Army’s
identified and do they have access to appropriate and/or
Ready and Resilient Campaign or the Special Operations
tailored services?
Command Preservation of the Force and Family initiative).
Kristy N. Kamarck, Analyst in Military Manpower
Legislative Actions
Congress has taken actions to enhance and expand DOD
IF10876
suicide prevention policies and programs (see Table 2).
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Military Suicide Prevention and Response
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
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