Military Suicide Prevention and Response

Military Suicide Prevention and Response

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Updated September 19, 2023
Military Suicide Prevention and Response
Background
Table 1. Unadjusted Suicide Mortality Rates by
When a servicemember dies by suicide, those close to the
Service and Component, CY2016-CY2021
member often experience shock, anger, guilt, and sorrow.
(rate per 100,000 personnel)
As such, a servicemember’s suicide may adversely impact
the wellbeing of his or her family and friends. Further, it
Service
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
may affect the morale and readiness of his or her unit. The
Active
21.5
22.1
24.9
26.3
28.7
24.3
military’s response to suicidal thoughts (ideation), attempts,
Total
and deaths involves coordinated efforts among command
and unit leadership, medical professionals, counselors, and
Army
27.4
24.7
29.9
30.5
36.2
36.3
others across the military community.
Marine
20.1
23.4
30.8
25.3
34.5
23.9
Under its constitutional authority to organize and regulate
Corps
the military, Congress has oversight over this issue and may
Navy
15.9
20.1
20.7
22.1
19
16.7
consider policy interventions to mitigate suicide risk
factors.
Air
19.4
19.6
18.5
25.1
24.6
15.3
Force
Defense Suicide Prevention Office
Reserve
22.0
25.7
22.9
18.5
21.7
21.2
The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO),
Total
established in 2012, is the office responsible for “advocacy,
program oversight, and policy for Department of Defense
Army
20.6
32.1
25.3
19.4
22.2
24.2
(DOD) suicide prevention, intervention and postvention
Reserve
efforts to reduce suicidal behaviors in servicemembers,
civilians and their families.” The office also
Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Reserve rates are not
collects and
reported (nr) by DOD when the suicide count is less than 20
reports surveillance data in an annual DOD Suicide Event
due to statistical instability.
Report (DoDSER) and quarterly DOD military suicide
reports.
Natl
27.3
29.8
30.6
20.5
27.5
26.4
Guard
Prevalence Rates
Total
According to DOD reports, in calendar year (CY) 2021 (the
most recently available data), 519 servicemembers died by
Army
31.6
35.5
35.3
22.9
31.5
30.3
suicide; including 328 deaths in the Active Component
Guard
(AC), 74 in the Reserves, and 117 in the National Guard
Air
nr
nr
nr
nr
nr
nr
(see Table 1). While suicide remains a low-incidence event,
Guard
AC suicide rates have generally trended upwards since
2013. In 2021, suicide rates in the National Guard showed a
Source: Compiled by CRS from Annual Suicide Reports and DOD
similar rate from the previous year; in the longer term there
Suicide Event Reports.
are no discernable trends.
Note: Changes in suicide rates from CY2020 to CY2021 are
statistical y significant for the AC, but are not significantly significant
In terms of demographics, over 93% of military suicide
for the Reserves and National Guard. DOD reported that to date,
deaths are men, and approximately half of reported suicides
there have been no suicide deaths for the Space Force.
are junior enlisted personnel (E1-E4). DOD asserts that
over the past few years, enlisted men under the age of 30
Military-Specific Suicide Risk Factors
have been “at higher risk for suicide” compared to the total
While servicemembers are already a high-risk population
military population.
for suicide due to the demographic composition, the
Comparison to the General Population
exposure to unique demands of military service are also
associated with greater risk factors for this population:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the suicide mortality rate for the U.S.
Mental Health Conditions. Exposure to combat and high-
general population was 14.1 per 100,000 in 2021–markedly
stress environments is associated with higher rates of
lower than the 2021 AC rate of 24.3 per 100,000. However,
mental health diagnoses, such as depression, anxiety
direct comparisons between the general civilian population
disorders, moral injury, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
and the military can be deceiving, as the military services
(PTSD).
are disproportionately comprised of younger individuals
Military Culture. Aspects of military culture that value
and more males. These sub-populations are generally at
toughness and resiliency may discourage help-seeking
higher risk for suicide.
behavior. Studies have shown that some servicemembers
perceive a stigma attached to seeking mental health care,
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and express concerns that seeking care will harm their
Other legislation has sought to improve outreach,
career opportunities.
awareness, and resiliency, particularly among certain
military communities deemed to be at high risk for suicide.
Head Trauma/Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Research
shows increased suicide ideation, attempt, and death rates
Table 2. Selected Legislation, FY2011-FY2022
among people who have experienced head trauma.
Authority
Action
Deployed military members may sustain concussive injuries
as a result of exposure to explosive blasts.
FY2011 NDAA Required DOD to establish a task force to
(P.L. 110-417)
examine suicide prevention and develop a
Substance Abuse and Associated Disorders. Evidence
comprehensive suicide prevention policy.
indicates elevated risk of death by suicide among people
Required DOD to enhance its suicide
with substance-use disorders, including heavy alcohol use.
FY2012 NDAA prevention program in cooperation with other
While illicit drug use is not prevalent in the military,
(P.L. 112-81)
government stakeholders and to include
surveys have shown that a higher percentage of military
suicide prevention information in pre-
personnel report heavy alcohol use compared to similar
separation counseling.
civilian cohorts.
FY2013 NDAA Established a DOD oversight position for
Access to Firearms. Studies have shown that having a
(P.L. 112-239)
suicide prevention programs and expanded
loaded firearm in the home increases the risk of suicide
programs to Reserve Component (RC)
death by four to six times. Servicemembers generally have
members and their families.
more exposure to firearms than the civilian population and
Allowed a member’s health professional or
are more likely to own a personal firearm. Firearms are the
commanding officer to inquire if the member
most common method of suicide death among military
owns or plans to acquire any weapons if
populations, accounting for 76.1% of all CY2021 suicides
reasonable belief exists that the member is at
in the National Guard, 74.3% in the Reserves, and 67.1% in
high risk for suicide or harm to others.
the Active Component.
FY2015 NDAA Required DOD to prescribe standards for
Interpersonal Relationships. DOD reported in CY2021
(P.L. 113-291)
data col ection and reporting related to
that the most common contextual factor in both suicide and
suicides and suicide attempts to include
suicide-attempts were difficulties with an intimate
reporting for military dependents, and
relationship. Though these difficulties are not unique to
directed a review of suicide prevention
military service, frequent separation due to training or
programs for Special Operations Forces.
deployments may contribute to relationship tensions.
FY2016 NDAA Authorized DOD to coordinate its efforts
Funding
(P.L. 114-92)
with nongovernmental organizations and
Congress funds DOD suicide prevention programs,
expanded outreach to separating members.
oversight, and research through its annual defense
FY2020 NDAA Authorized a pilot suicide prevention program
appropriation. The Defense Health Program account
(P.L. 116-92)
for the National Guard using a mobile
primarily funds most of DOD’s suicide prevention research
application.
and, in the past, has received additional funds through the
FY2021 NDAA Made RC prevention and resiliency programs
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program
permanent and required a multidisciplinary
(CDMRP).
(P.L. 116-283)
review of suicide events.
In FY2023, Congress appropriated $175 million for the
FY2022 NDAA Established the Suicide Prevention and
CDMRP’s psychological health and TBI research portfolio,
(P.L. 117-81)
Response Independent Review Committee.
which includes the Military Suicide Research Consortium
and components of the Psychological Health Center of
Source: CRS consolidation of relevant legislation.
Excellence (PHCoE) and the Traumatic Brain Injury Center
Considerations for Congress
of Excellence (TBICoE). PHCoE conducts research and
Oversight questions for Congress with regard to military
integrates evidence-based treatments to address mental
suicide and resiliency may include
health conditions, including suicide. TBICoE conducts
•
research and integrates evidence-based treatments to
How can research be better disseminated and brought
address mild to severe TBI. DSPO was funded at $28.2
into practice?
•
million in FY2023.
On what aspects of the issue should future
congressionally funded research efforts focus?
The military services, components, and activities, also fund
• What factors contribute to differences in suicide rates
suicide prevention and resiliency activities as part of family
among the services, components, and demographics?
and community support programs through Operation and
• Are high-risk military members and communities being
Maintenance accounts (e.g., the Army’s Ready and
identified and do they have access to appropriate and/or
Resilient Campaign or the Special Operations Command
tailored services?
Preservation of the Force and Family initiative).
• How does DOD measure program effectiveness?
Legislative Actions
Kristy N. Kamarck, Specialist in Military Manpower
Congress has taken actions to enhance and expand DOD
Bryce H. P. Mendez, Specialist in Defense Health Care
suicide prevention policies and programs (see Table 2).
Policy
These actions have included strengthening DOD oversight
and increasing data collection, reporting, and analysis.
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Military Suicide Prevention and Response

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