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1 1 (September 19, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govemwu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing helegislative debate sinre 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 its constitutional authority to organize and regulate the military, Congress has oversight over this issue and may consider policy 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, 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 collects and reports surveillance data in an annual DOD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) and quarterly DOD military suicide reports. Prevalence Rates According to DOD reports, in calendar year (CY) 2021 (the most recently available data), 519 servicemembers died by suicide; including 328 deaths in the Active Component (AC), 74 in the Reserves, and 117 in the National Guard (see Table 1). While suicide remains a low-incidence event, Active Component suicide rates have generally trended upwards since 2013. In 2021, suicide rates in the National Guard showed a similar rate from the previous year; in the longer term there are no discernable trends. In terms of demographics, over 93% of military suicide deaths are men, and approximately half of reported suicides are junior enlisted personnel (El-E4). DOD asserts that over the past few years, enlisted men under the age of 30 have been at higher risk for suicide compared to the total military population. Comparison to the General Population According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the suicide mortality rate for the U.S. general population was 14.1 per 100,000 in 2021-markedly lower than the 2021 AC rate of 24.3 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 more males. These sub-populations are generally at higher risk for suicide. Updated September 19, 2023 Table I. Unadjusted Suicide Mortality Rates by Service and Component, CY20 I 6-CY202 I (rate per 100,000 personnel) Service 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Army 27.4 24.7 29.9 30.5 36.2 36.3 Marine Corps Navy Air Force 20.1 23.4 30.8 25.3 34.5 23.9 15.9 20.1 20.7 22.1 19 16.7 19.4 19.6 18.5 25.1 24.6 15.3 Army 20.6 32.1 25.3 19.4 22.2 24.2 Reserve 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 31.6 35.5 35.3 22.9 31.5 30.3 nr nr nr nr nr nr Source: Compiled by CRS from Annual Suicide Reports and DOD Suicide Event Reports. Note: Changes in suicide rates from CY2020 to CY2021 are statistically significant for the active component, but are not significantly significant for the Reserves and National Guard. DOD reported that to date, there have been no suicide deaths for the Space Force. Military-Speciflc Suicide Risk Factors While 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 risk factors for this population: Mental Health Conditions. Exposure to combat and high- stress environments is associated with higher rates of mental health diagnoses, such as depression, anxiety disorders, moral injury, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Military Culture. Aspects of military culture that value toughness and resiliency may discourage help-seeking

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