The U.S. Department of Defense has reported an increase in suicides among active-duty service members in 2023, continuing a concerning upward trend despite ongoing prevention initiatives. According to the department’s annual report, suicides rose from 331 in 2022 to 363 in 2023, marking a rise in the suicide rate from 17 per 100,000 active-duty personnel in 2011 to 26 per 100,000 in 2023.
Dr. Timothy Hoyt, Deputy Director of the Office of Force Resiliency at the Defense Department, acknowledged the gradual increase, stating, “Admittedly yes, that long-term trend is gradually increasing.” The report highlights that enlisted males under the age of 30 accounted for 61% of the suicides, with firearms being the most common method at 65%, followed by hanging or asphyxiation at 28%.
Between 2011 and 2022, suicide rates in the military are similar to those in the broader U.S. population, according to defense officials. According to Dr. Hoyt, “We are not immune to the factors that drive suicide throughout the U.S., and our service members face, in addition to those, a number of unique military challenges.”
In response to these findings, the Pentagon has been implementing recommendations from the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee, which was established to provide strategies for reducing suicide deaths within the military. The committee’s suggestions include enhancing mental health care delivery, addressing stigma and barriers to care, and revising suicide prevention training.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the report’s findings “urgently demonstrate the need for the Department to redouble its work in the complex fields of suicide prevention and postvention.” He noted that the Defense Department has completed 20 of the committee’s 83 recommendations and plans to invest approximately $250 million in suicide prevention efforts in fiscal year 2025, the largest amount ever allocated for this purpose.
The department remains committed to addressing this critical issue and is actively working to implement effective strategies to support the mental health and well-being of service members.
