According to senior defense officials, suicides in the U.S. military have seen an increase in 2023, continuing a concerning long-term trend that the Pentagon has been working to address. The rise in suicides comes after a slight decrease the previous year, with both the number of suicides and the rate per 100,000 active-duty service members going up, although the increase was deemed not statistically significant.
While the number of suicides increased among members of the Reserves, there was a slight decrease for the National Guard. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made addressing this issue a top priority, with efforts focused on enhancing mental health assistance for troops and promoting education on gun safety, locks, and storage.
The increase in suicides was primarily driven by spikes in the Army and Air Force, while the Marine Corps and Navy saw a minor decline. In total, there were 523 reported suicides in 2023 compared to 493 in 2022, with the number of active-duty troops dying by suicide rising to 363 from 331.
Officials emphasized that the suicide rate, rather than the raw number, is a more accurate measure due to the decreasing size of the active-duty force in recent years. The analysis also revealed that young, male enlisted troops continue to account for the majority of suicides, with firearms being the most common method used.
Despite recommendations from an independent commission to implement stricter gun safety measures, the Pentagon has opted for a different approach, focusing on incentivizing secure firearm storage, providing more storage locations, and enhancing public education on safe gun practices. The department is also in the process of modernizing training programs to educate troops on proper gun storage and usage while reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental health support.
Efforts are underway to hire more personnel for prevention programs, with approximately 1,000 professionals already recruited and a goal of reaching 2,500 by 2028. The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988, with an online chat option at 988lifeline.org for those in need of support.
