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1 1 (October 2, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govbbfs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: M r SCongressional Research Service ~ hforig th legaslative debate since 1914 Military Suicide Prevention and Response Background When a servicemember dies by suicide, those close to the member often experience shock, anger, guilt, and sorrow. As such, a servicemember's suicide may adversely impact the wellbeing of his or her family and friends. Further, it may affect the morale and readiness of his or her unit. The military's response to suicidal thoughts (ideation), attempts, and deaths involves coordinated efforts among command and unit leadership, medical professionals, counselors, and others across the military community. Under the authority given to Congress in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, to raise and support armies; provide and maintain a navy; and provide for organizing, disciplining, and regulating them, Congress strives to understand the scope of this issue as it pertains to the military, the efforts previously taken to address it, and the considerations for confronting it in the future. Defense Suicide Prevention Office The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), established in 2012, is the office responsible for advocacy, program oversight, and policy for Department of Defense (DOD) suicide prevention, intervention and postvention efforts to reduce suicidal behaviors in servicemembers, civilians and their families. The office also manages a 24- hour Military Crisis Line, produces an annual DOD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER), and compiles quarterly DOD military suicide reports. Prevalence Rates In calendar year (CY) 2018, DOD reported 541 servicemember suicide deaths. There were 325 suicides in the Active Component (AC), 81 in the Reserves, and 135 in the National Guard. While suicide remains a low incidence event, Active Component suicide rates have trended upwards since 2013. In CY2018, the active Marine Corps and Army had the highest rates among the services. While overall National Guard and Reserve rates have not shown a discernable trend since 2013, Army National Guard suicide rates have been consistently higher than the other services and components (see Table 1 for rates across components). In terms of demographics, over 90% of military suicide deaths are men, and approximately half of reported suicides are junior enlisted personnel (El-E4). Comparison to the General Population According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the suicide mortality rate for the U.S. general population was 14.0 per 100,000 in 2017: markedly lower than the 2017 AC rate of 21.9 per 100,000. However, comparisons between military and civilian populations can be misleading because of differences in suicide reporting methods used by CDC and DOD. Also, these populations Updated October 2, 2019 greatly differ in terms of age and sex. The military services are disproportionately comprised of younger individuals and more males-sub-populations at higher risk for suicide. For CY2018, DOD found that after adjusting for age and sex, the suicide rates for Active and Reserve members are close to what would be expected if the military had the same age and sex composition as the U.S. general population. However, DOD has reported that the rate of suicide for the National Guard is higher than expected relative to the general population. Table I. Unadjusted Suicide Mortality Rates by Service and Component, 2013-2018 (rate per 100,000 personnel) Service 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Active Total 18.5 20A4 20.2 21.5 21.9 24.8 Army 22.5 24.6 24.4 27.4 24.3 29.5 Air Force 14.4 19.1 20.5 19.4 19.6 18.5 Navy 12.7 16.6 13.1 15.9 20.1 20.7 Marine 23.1 17.9 21.2 20.1 23.4 31.4 Corps Reserv 22.8 21.6 24.7 22.0 25.7 22,9 Army 29.6 21.4 27.7 20.6 32.1 25.3 Reserve Air Force Reserve nr nr nr nr nr nr Navy Rsve nr nr nr nr nr nr Marine Corps nr nr nr nr nr nr Reserve Nati Guard 28.9 19.8 27.5 27.3 29.1 30.6 Total Army Guard 33.7 21.8 29.8 31.6 34.6 35.3 Air Guard nr nr 19.9 nr nr nr Source: Compiled by CRS from Annual Suicide Reports and DOD Suicide Event Reports. Notes: Rates for subgroups with fewer than 20 suicides are not reported (nr) by DOD due to statistical instability. Military-Specific Suicide Risk Factors While military servicemembers are already a high-risk population for suicide due to the demographic composition, https:!/crsrepod.cong --sq

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