Military suicides rose in 2023, continuing a troubling trend

Military suicides increased again in 2023, continuing a steady and concerning rise in self-inflicted deaths among servicemembers over more than a decade, according to statistics released by the Defense Department on Thursday.

Pentagon officials downplayed the significance of the 6% rise in suicides from 2022 to 2023 (the latest data available), calling the rise not statistically significant. But they acknowledged “an increasing long-term trend in suicide rates” for active-duty troops despite years of focus on prevention efforts.

“Going forward, it’s our commitment to really invest in tracking these efforts and finding those things that are the most effective,” said Dr. Timothy Hoyt, deputy director of the Office of Force Resiliency.

“We’re making an unprecedented investment in doing things that work, and our intent is to make sure that we’re able to show that those programs have received sufficient support to really be implemented at scale.”

Military researchers recorded 523 suicides in 2023, the highest total since 2020. The number of active-duty troops was 363, up from 331 a year earlier.

The Marine Corps had the highest rate of suicide, with about 35 cases per 100,000 people in 2023. The Army was just under 33 cases per 100,000.

The Air Force (about 21 per 100,000) and Navy (about 19 per 100,000) saw lower rates. But all four services have seen a steady increase since 2011, when the Department began formally tracking the issue.

The Space Force reported two deaths by suicide in 2023, a figure too small for statistical analysis of force trends.

Officials said the rates generally track with comparable civilian trends, when taking into account how the military skews younger and more male than the general population.

And while Hoyt said the most recent increase does not indicate the problem of suicide in the ranks is rapidly worsening, officials also could not point to evidence that past suicide prevention efforts have helped improve the situation.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin two years ago established a new Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee to generate new ideas on mental health and quality of life improvements to address the problem of military suicide. Early last year, that group issued its report, which included gun safety measures for all servicemembers.

Since then, Pentagon leaders have launched a new campaign to address suicides which includes recommendations — but not mandates — for safe storage of firearms and gun safety. Officials also plan to hire more than 2,000 new mental health professionals focused on suicide prevention in the next four years.

The results of those programs won’t be reflected in suicide figures for several more years, researchers warned.

In a statement accompanying Thursday’s report, Austin said the latest findings “demonstrate the need for the department to redouble its work in the complex fields of suicide prevention and postvention.”

“Our efforts aim to meet the military community where they are in their personal and professional lives — whether through bolstering financial readiness and support, building healthy relationships, improving mental health, or supporting them through life transitions.”

Servicemembers, veterans or family members in need of emergency counseling can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and selecting option 1 after connecting to reach a VA staffer. In addition, individuals can also text 838255 for help, or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for assistance.