Lolita C. Baldor
Associated Press
Originally posted 14 Nov 24
Suicides in the U.S. military increased in 2023, continuing a long-term trend that the Pentagon has struggled to abate, according to a Defense Department report released on Thursday. The increase is a bit of a setback after the deaths dipped slightly the previous year.
The number of suicides and the rate per 100,000 active-duty service members went up, but that the rise was not statistically significant. The number also went up among members of the Reserves, while it decreased a bit for the National Guard.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has declared the issue a priority, and top leaders in the Defense Department and across the services have worked to develop programs both to increase mental health assistance for troops and bolster education on gun safety, locks and storage. Many of the programs, however, have not been fully implemented yet, and the moves fall short of more drastic gun safety measures recommended by an independent commission.
Here are some thoughts:
The report from the Associated Press focuses on the rise in suicide rates among U.S. military personnel in 2023. Despite efforts by the Pentagon to reduce these numbers, the suicide rate increased, although the rise was not statistically significant. This follows a trend of increasing suicides among active-duty members since 2011.
The article highlights the ongoing efforts to address the problem, including increasing access to mental health care and promoting gun safety measures, but also points to an independent commission's recommendation for more drastic gun safety regulations that have not yet been implemented. The article concludes with the overall trend of suicide rates in the military and among family members of service members, as well as information on how to access mental health support through the 988 Lifeline.
