The Department of Defense’s report on military suicides for calendar year 2023 was released last week and the news is not good.
A total of 523 service members died by suicide during 2023 compared to 493 the year prior. The military calculates its suicide rate based on a total force (all military services combined) of 1.28 million and for this calendar year, the rate per 100,000 is 25.6, an upward rise of nine percent.
In a written statement accompanying the report, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin acknowledged that “the findings urgently demonstrate the need for the Department to redouble its work in the complex fields of suicide prevention and postvention.”
There were 363 suicides among active-duty military members last year while 91 National Guard members and 69 reservists took their own lives. The number of suicides for active-duty members and reservists is higher than 2022 while the National Guard numbers are lower.
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The report also said that 146 military family members and 53 dependents died by suicide last year.
About 60 percent of the suicides were by young, enlisted men under 30.
A firearm was the primary method of suicide.
The report also stated that 28% of those who died by suicide expressed their intent to do self-harm.
The report also identified, the best it could the most-pressing issue that led to military service members committing suicide:
- 44%: Relationships issues;
- 42%: Mental health issues;
- 29%: Legal issue;
- 24%: Workplace issues;
- 12%: Financial issues.
The Department of Defense is implementing a plan to address the problems leading to mental health issues. The objectives include taking measures to de-stigmatize the act of asking for help or admitting to a mental health issue, improving the delivery of mental health care, and encouraging commanders to create supportive environments for their personnel.
