The overall suicide rate among active duty troops rose 9% in 2023, according to the Annual Report on Suicide in the Military, released by the Pentagon this week.
Among active duty troops, the suicide rate is 28.2 per 100,000 people. The Army had the largest increase — from a rate of 29 per 100,000 in 2022 to nearly 35 in 2023. The Navy and Air Force also saw slight increases.
In the report, the Pentagon says the jump is not statistically significant but the rise continues an overall trend that shows suicide steadily increasing since 2011.
The vast majority of suicides happen inside the United States, in the states with the highest concentration of military forces, including Virginia.
The most vulnerable group are troops under 24 years old. The most likely means is a personal firearm. A firearm was involved in 65%of all deaths, which is 15 percentage points higher than the national average.
The Suicide Prevention Response and Independent Review Committee made more than 100 recommendations in a 2022 report, including increasing the restrictions on personal firearms on Department of Defense facilities, but those recommendations have not been implemented.
A year ago, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the service to look at ways to decrease deaths. The Pentagon rolled out a suicide prevention campaign to all the services, promoting access to care to reduce the stigma surrounding getting treatment.
“The Department will continue to build on these efforts to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the wellness, health, and morale of our Force, and honor the memory of those lost to suicide,” according to the release issued by the Pentagon with the report.
The Navy has instituted a number of policies in the wake of a rash of deaths at facilities in Hampton Roads and on board the USS George Washington in 2021 and 2022.
The Navy concentrated on improving living conditions for younger sailors, especially those assigned to ships undergoing long-term maintenance. The service has added WIFI in the shipyards in Newport News, improved parking and rolled out plans to upgrade housing for junior sailors, who are the most vulnerable. The Navy has also increased access to mental health services, on shore and on board ships.
Troops and veterans experiencing a mental health emergency can call 988 and select option 1 to speak with a VA staffer.
