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Friday 21 OctOber 2022
Military suicides drop as leaders push new programs

For example, Lt. Gen.
Douglas Sims, in his previous
post as commander at Fort
Riley, Kansas, began re-
quiring soldiers at the base
to meet with a counselor
once a year.
“I can’t order anybody to
talk to a counselor,” he said
earlier this year, just before
he left. “But I can tell you,
listen, you’ve got to sit in a
room for 30 to 60 minutes.
And there happens to be
a counselor in the same
room.”
All but about 10 out of
14,000 soldiers, he said,
used the time to talk with
the counselor.
The trends of those who die
by suicide, however, have
been consistent.
Pentagon officials said
that they are working on
hiring 2,000 more mental
health care personnel and
hope to have the first 400
on board in the coming
months.
According to the Penta-
An 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper participates in artillery training during a field exercise on Fort Bragg on Aug. 26, 2020.
Associated Press gon report, overwhelmingly
they are white male, en-
Continued from Front The Army decline comes the Reserves both saw a The Pentagon report re- listed service members un-
in the wake of a spate of small dip in suicides, from leased Thursday said that der the age of 30. In 2021,
The shift follows increased suicides at Army bases last 121 in 2020 to 119 in 2021. “intimate relationship prob- roughly 94% of military sui-
attention by senior military year, including in Alaska, And there were also fewer lems in the last year was cides were men. And they
leaders and an array of which fueled a small in- Guard deaths in the first the most common interper- most often used a gun —
new programs aimed at crease in deaths com- half of 2022, compared sonal stressor identified” in usually a personally owned
addressing what has been pared with 2020. The Army with last year. Suicides in both suicide and suicide- one, not a military firearm.
a persistent problem in all was the only military serv- the Reserves went up, from attempts. And Little said The second most common
the services, although it’s ice to have more suicides 29 to 36. relationship stress continues method was hanging or as-
unclear what impact any in 2021 than in 2020 — 176 The Guard has worked over to be one of the leading phyxiation.
of the programs had or if compared with 174. But the last year to reduce sui- risk factors for the Guard, The report said the suicide
pandemic-related restric- it is also the only service cides through outreach as well as work stress, sub- rate — which is the number
tions played any role in the that has seen a decline this and other changes, includ- stance abuse and sexual of deaths per 100,000 serv-
decline. year. ing policies to destigma- abuse. ice members — has gradu-
The Defense Department The Navy, Air Force and tize getting mental health Defense leaders have not- ally gone up since 2011,
is still grappling with wide- Marine Corps have all had help and a program that ed that the complexity of and is similar to that of the
spread shortages of men- a bit more suicides in the provides firearms locks for the causes makes it difficult U.S. population, when ad-
tal health personnel and first six months of 2022 than service members who keep to address, since there is no justed for age and gender.
a difficult push to reduce during the same time pe- weapons at home, said one-size-fits-all cure. The data for military spous-
the stigma of seeking help. riod last year, according Army Maj. Gen. Eric Little, Yvette Bourcicot, the act- es and dependents for
But the numbers provide a to preliminary Pentagon head of manpower and ing assistant Army secre- calendar year 2020 was
glimmer of hope that some data. That makes it unclear personnel for the Guard. tary for manpower, told the also released. Suicides by
of the recent changes — if the downward trend will Little said that in some cas- AP on Thursday that while spouses were divided al-
which range from required continue through the end es, if service members re- staffing shortfalls continue, most equally by gender
counseling visits to stress of this year. port they are seeking coun- the service is “being crea- and nearly 80% were under
relief education and rec- According to Defense De- seling, it can affect their tive” in using other person- the age of 40. Again, most
reational outings — may be partment data, there were security clearance or flying nel such as chaplains and — 60% — used a firearm.
working. 328 suicides by active duty eligibility. He said officials health and fitness coaches Military dependents who
According to the data, the service members in 2021, are working to change pol- to fill the gaps. die by suicide were most
number of suicides in the compared with 384 in icies. “The amount of attention often male and under the
Air Force and Marine Corp 2020. In the first six months Suicide has long been a that we’re paying to it, I age of 18.
dropped by more than of 2021, there were 173 sui- problem in the U.S. military, think, is hopefully — we’re Suicide attempts, mean-
30% in 2021 compared with cides, compared with 158 and its causes are complex cautiously optimistic — while, most often involved
2020, and the Navy saw a in that time frame this year. and not fully understood. what is translating into the poisoning. which includes
10% decline. The Army saw That drop is entirely due to Behavioral research has downward trend,” said drugs and alcohol. The re-
a similar 30% decrease dur- the Army, which had 101 in linked military suicides to a Bourcicot. She also noted port said more than 1,200
ing the first six months of this the first half of 2021, and 69 range of personal issues, in- that base commanders people attempted suicide,
year, compared with the in that time period this year. cluding finances and mari- tailor programs to fit their and 67 tried two or more
same time period last year. The National Guard and tal stress. forces. times.q