link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 
Updated July 23, 2021
Military Suicide Prevention and Response
Background
Comparison to the General Population
When a servicemember dies by suicide, those close to the
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
member often experience shock, anger, guilt, and sorrow.
(CDC), the suicide mortality rate for the U.S. general
As such, a servicemember’s suicide may adversely impact
population was 14.2 per 100,000 in 2018; markedly lower
the wellbeing of his or her family and friends. Further, it
than the 2018 AC rate of 25.9 per 100,000. However, direct
may affect the morale and readiness of his or her unit. The
military’s r
comparisons between the general civilian population and
esponse to suicidal thoughts (ideation), attempts,
the military can be deceiving, as the military services are
and deaths involves coordinated efforts among command
disproportionately comprised of younger individuals and
and unit leadership, medical professionals, counselors, and
more males. These sub-populations at higher risk for
others across the military community.
suicide.
Under its constitutional authority to organize and regulate
According to DOD analysis, when calculating military
the military, Congress has oversight over this issue and may
suicide rates to account for demographic disparities
consider policy interventions to mitigate suicide risk
between the military and civilian populations, adjusted
factors.
military suicide rates are higher than, but comparable to
Defense Suicide Prevention Office
CDC-reported civilian suicide rates (i.e., the differences
between these rates are not statistically significant).
The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO),
established in 2012, is the office responsible for “advocacy,
Table 1. Unadjusted Suicide Mortality Rates by
program oversight, and policy for Department of Defense
Service and Component, CY2014-2019
(DOD) suicide prevention, intervention and postvention
(rate per 100,000 personnel)
efforts to reduce suicidal behaviors in servicemembers,
civilians and their families.” The office also manages a 24-
Service
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
hour Military Crisis Line, produces an annual DOD Suicide
Event Report (DoDSER), and compiles quarterly DOD
Active
20.4
20.2
21.5
22.1
24.9
25.9
military suicide reports.
Total
Prevalence Rates
Army
24.6
24.4
27.4
24.7
29.9
29.8
According to DOD reports, in calendar year (CY) 2019 (the
Marine
17.9
21.2
20.1
23.4
30.8
25.3
most recently available data), 498 servicemember died by
Corps
suicide; including 344 deaths in the Active Component
Navy
16.6
13.1
15.9
20.1
20.7
21.5
(AC), 65 in the Reserves, and 89 in the National Guard.
(See According to DOD analysis, when calculating
Air
19.1
20.5
19.4
19.6
18.5
25.1
military suicide rates to account for demographic
Force
disparities between the military and civilian
Reserve
populations, adjusted military suicide rates are higher
21.6
24.7
22.0
25.7
22.9
18.2
Total
than, but comparable to CDC-reported civilian suicide
rates (i.e., the differences between these rates are not
Army
21.4
27.7
20.6
32.1
25.3
18.9
statistically significant).
Reserve
Table 1.) While suicide remains a low incidence event,
Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Reserve rates are not
Active Component suicide rates have trended upwards
reported (nr) by DOD when the suicide count is less than 20
since 2013. In 2019, suicide rates in the National Guard
due to statistical instability.
showed a statistically significant decrease from the previous
Natl
year; however, in the longer term there are no discernable
Guard
19.8
27.5
27.3
29.8
30.6
20.3
trends.
Total
In terms of demographics, over 90% of military suicide
Army
deaths are men, and approximately half of reported suicides
21.8
29.8
31.6
35.5
35.3
22.3
Guard
are junior enlisted personnel (E1-E4). While 42.7% of the
total military population in CY2019 were enlisted men
Air
nr
19.9
nr
nr
nr
nr
under the age of 30, this demographic accounted for 61% of
Guard
the suicide deaths.
Source: Compiled by CRS from Annual Suicide Reports and DOD
Suicide Event Reports.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 Military Suicide Prevention and Response
Note: Changes in suicide rates from CY2018 to CY2019 are not
The military services, components, and activities, also fund
statistical y significant for the active component, but are significantly
suicide prevention and resiliency activities as part of family
lower for the National Guard.
and community support programs through Operation and
Maintenance accounts (e.g., the Army’s Ready and
Military-Specific Suicide Risk Factors
Resilient Campaign or the Special Operations Command
While military servicemembers are already a high-risk
Preservation of the Force and Family initiative).
population for suicide due to the demographic composition,
the exposure to unique demands of military service are also
Legislative Actions
associated with greater risk factors for this population:
Congress has taken actions to enhance and expand DOD
suicide prevention policies and programs (see Table 2).
Mental Health Conditions and Disorders. Exposure to
These actions have included strengthening DOD oversight
combat and high-stress environments is associated with
and increasing data collection, reporting, and analysis.
higher rates of mental health diagnoses, such as depression,
Other legislation has sought to improve outreach,
anxiety disorders, moral injury, and Post-Traumatic Stress
awareness, and resiliency, particularly among certain
Disorder (PTSD).
military communities deemed to be at high risk for suicide.
Military Culture. Aspects of military culture that value
Table 2. Selected Legislation, FY2011-FY2021
toughness and resiliency may discourage help-seeking
behavior. Studies have shown that some servicemembers
Authority
Action
perceive a stigma attached to seeking mental health care,
FY2011 NDAA Required DOD to establish a task force to
and express concerns that seeking care will harm their
(P.L. 110-417)
examine suicide prevention and develop a
career opportunities.
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.
separation counseling.
Substance Abuse and Associated Disorders. Evidence
FY2013 NDAA Established a DOD oversight position for
indicates elevated risk of death by suicide among people
(P.L. 112-239)
suicide prevention programs and expanded
with substance-use disorders, including heavy alcohol use.
programs to RC members and their families.
While illicit drug use is not prevalent in the military,
Allowed 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.
reasonable belief exists that the member is at
Access to Firearms. Studies have shown that having a
high risk for suicide or harm to others.
loaded firearm in the home increases the risk of suicide
FY2015 NDAA Required DOD to prescribe standards for
death by four to six times. Servicemembers generally have
(P.L. 113-291)
data col ection and reporting related to
more exposure to firearms than the civilian population and
suicides and suicide attempts to include
are more likely to own a personal firearm. Firearms are the
reporting for military dependents, and
most common method of suicide death among military
directed a review of suicide prevention
populations, accounting for 78.7% of all CY2019 suicides
programs for Special Operations Forces.
in the National Guard, 66.2% in the Reserves, and 59.6% in
FY2016 NDAA Authorized DOD to coordinate its efforts
the Active Component.
(P.L. 114-92)
with nongovernmental organizations and
Funding
expanded outreach to separating members.
Congress funds DOD suicide prevention programs,
FY2020 NDAA Authorized a pilot suicide prevention program
oversight and research through its annual defense
(P.L. 116-92)
for the National Guard using a mobile
appropriation. The Defense Health Program account
application.
primarily funds most of DOD’s suicide prevention research
and, in the past, has received additional funds through the
FY2021 NDAA Made RC prevention and resiliency programs
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program
(P.L. 116-283)
permanent and required a multidisciplinary
(CDMRP).
review of suicide events.
Source: CRS consolidation of relevant legislation.
In FY2021, Congress appropriated $175 million for the
CDMRP’s psychological health and TBI research portfolio,
Considerations for Congress
which includes the Military Suicide Research Consortium.
Oversight questions for Congress with regard to military
The Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE)
suicide and resiliency may include:
and the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence
(TBICoE) received nearly $0.5 million in appropriations.
How can research be better disseminated and brought
PHCoE conducts research and integrates evidence-based
into practice?
treatments to address mental health conditions, including
On what aspects of the issue should future
suicide. TBICoE conducts research and integrates evidence-
congressionally funded research efforts focus?
based treatments to address mild to severe TBI. DSPO was
funded at $13.6 million in FY2021.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Military Suicide Prevention and Response
What factors contribute to differences in suicide rates
Kristy N. Kamarck, Analyst in Military Manpower
among the services and components?
Bryce H. P. Mendez, Analyst in Defense Health Care
Are high-risk military members and communities being
Policy
identified and do they have access to appropriate and/or
IF10876
tailored services?
How does DOD measure program effectiveness?
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10876 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED