A Pentagon study revealed that U.S. soldiers were nearly nine times more likely to die by suicide than in combat over the five-year period ending in 2019.
Published by the Defense Health Agency in May, the study identified suicide as the leading cause of death among active-duty soldiers from 2014 to 2019, with 883 suicides recorded compared to 96 combat deaths. Accidents ranked as the second leading cause with 814 fatalities during the same period.
Despite initiatives launched by the Army and Pentagon to combat suicide, such as addressing harmful behaviors like alcohol abuse, suicide rates among active-duty soldiers have continued to rise. In 2024 alone, 55 soldiers have died by suicide. The Army officials, speaking to USA TODAY, attributed this increase partly to broader societal trends affecting the entire U.S. population.
The suicide rate among soldiers, measured per 100,000, has shown fluctuation: from 28.8 in 2019 to a peak of 36.6 in 2023, and currently standing at 31.8 as of May 2024. This contrasts starkly with the overall U.S. suicide rate, which has increased by 37% since 2000, reaching 14.1 per 100,000 in 2021.
In Alaska, the issue of soldier suicides at Fort Wainwright prompted significant concern. Despite over $200 million spent on improving living conditions, including barracks and vehicle garages, suicides among stationed soldiers remained persistent. Following investigations and congressional pressure, the Army deployed additional mental health professionals, resulting in a decline in suicides from 17 in 2021 to six in 2022.
Last September, in response to an independent commission’s recommendations, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin outlined the Pentagon’s strategy to prevent further suicides. This strategy includes enhancing access to mental health counseling and promoting safe firearm storage, which accounts for 70% of suicide deaths among soldiers.
The Army’s approach to suicide prevention has evolved to encompass a broader spectrum of stressors affecting soldiers, including financial difficulties and relationship strains. Training initiatives have focused on reducing stigma around seeking help and encouraging soldiers to check in with each other about their mental well-being.
Colonel Kevin Goke from the Army’s Directorate of Prevention, Resilience & Readiness emphasized the importance of normalizing safe firearm storage practices among soldiers. This includes initiatives like the program at Fort Cavazos in Texas, where regular discussions on gun safety have yielded promising results.
Overall, the military continues to grapple with the complex challenge of reducing suicide rates among its personnel, with ongoing efforts aimed at comprehensive prevention strategies and support systems.
