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1 1 (July 23, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/goveecd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Military Suicide Prevention and Response Background When a servicememberdies 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 ofhis 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 its constitutional authority to organize and regulate the military, Congress has oversightover this is sue and nay considerpolicy interventions to mitigate suicide risk factors. Defense Suicide Prevention Office The Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), established in 2012, is the office responsible for advocacy, programoversight, andpolicy for Department of Defense (DOD) suicide prevention, intervention andpostvention efforts to reduce suicidalbehaviors 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 According to DODreports, in calendar year (CY) 2019 (the most recently available data), 498 servicemember died by suicide; including 344 deaths in the Active Component (AC), 65 in the Reserves, and 89 in the National Guard. (See Table 1.) While suicide remains alowincidence event, Active Component suicide rates havetrended upwards since 2013. In 2019, suicide rates in the National Guard showed a statistically significant decrease fromthe previous year; however, in the longer termthere are no discernable trends. In terms of demographics, over 90% of military suicide deaths are men, and approximately half ofreported suicides arejunior enlisted personnel (El-E4). While 42.7% ofthe total military population in CY2019 were enlisted men under the age of 30, this demographic accounted for 61% of the suicide deaths. 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 14.2per 100,000 in 2018; markedly lower than the 2018 AC rate of25.9 per 100,000. However, direct comparisons between the general civilian population and the military can be deceiving, as the military services are disproportionately comprised of younger individuals and Updated July 23, 2021 more males. These sub-populations at higher risk for suicide. According to DOD analysis, when calculating military suicide rates to account for demographic disparities between the military and civilian populations, adjusted military suicide rates are higher than, but conparable to CDC-reported civilian suicide rates (i.e., the differences between these rates are not statistically significant). Table I. Unadjusted Suicide Mortality Rates by Service and Component, CY2014-2019 (rate per 100,000 personnel) Service 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Army 24.6 24.4 27.4 24.7 29.9 29.8 Marine 17.9 21.2 20.1 23.4 30.8 25.3 Corps Navy 16.6 13.1 15.9 20.1 20.7 21.5 Air Force Army Reserve 19.1 20.5 19.4 19.6 18.5 25.1 21.4 27.7 20.6 32.1 25.3 18.9 Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Reserve rates are not reported (nr) by DOD when the suicide count is less than 20 due to statistical instability. Army Guard Air Guard 21.8 29.8 31.6 35.5 35.3 22.3 nr 19.9 nr nr nr nr Source: Compiled by CRSfromAnnual Suicide Reportsand DOD Suicide Event Reports. Note: Changes in suicide ratesfrom CY20 I8to CY20 19are not statistically significant forthe active component, but are significantly lower for the National Guard. Military-Specific Suicide Risk Factors While military servicemembers are already a high-risk population for suicide due to the demographic composition, the exposure to unique demands of military service are also associated with greater riskfactors for this population: ttps://cisrepuots~congre&

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