Suicide in the Military: Understanding Rates and Risk Factors Across the United States’ Armed Forces

Abstract

This paper presents data from the United States Department of Defense Suicide Event Report System for years 2012–2015 to detail descriptive, longitudinal rate data and risk factor profiles associated with military suicide. The annual findings were aggregated from all U.S. military suicide deaths and suicide attempts. Data elements included the most common method of suicide (firearms), most common behavioral health diagnoses (substance abuse/dependence), common life stressors (failed intimate–partner relationships), and an individual’s history of operational deployment. Age- and sex-adjusted rates for the Services were compared with rates for the U.S. adult population. Results showed that the current reporting period (2015) is similar to patterns that have been observed over the preceding years and to patterns reported in the overall U.S. adult population. Suicide rates remain elevated but stable for both the Active and Reserve Components of the Military Services compared to historical levels observed prior to 2003. Finally, we discuss common errors and misinterpretations that can occur when analyzing surveillance data.

Fluid vulnerability theory as a framework for understanding the association between posttraumatic stress disorder and suicide: A narrative review

“…These rates have increased nearly every year for more than a decade (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2021) despite the implementation of suicide prevention initiatives (Bagley et al., 2010; Bryan et al., 2012). Suicide rates also have risen among subpopulations that historically have had very low suicide rates, such as United States military personnel (Kuehn, 2009; Pruitt et al., 2019).…”

Characteristics of suicidal male and female soldiers in various military forces

“…A study by Pruitt et al [25] showed that while during the years 2012-2015 the rate of death by suicide for male soldiers was between 20.5 and 24.8 per 100,000 US service members, the rate for female soldiers was 11.7 per 100,000 US service members, namely about half of the men's rate. Firearms were found to be the most common method of suicide (62.3%), followed by hanging or asphyxiation (29.8%) [25].…”

“…A study by Pruitt et al [25] showed that while during the years 2012-2015 the rate of death by suicide for male soldiers was between 20.5 and 24.8 per 100,000 US service members, the rate for female soldiers was 11.7 per 100,000 US service members, namely about half of the men's rate. Firearms were found to be the most common method of suicide (62.3%), followed by hanging or asphyxiation (29.8%) [25]. Results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) conducted in the US military, showed that female service members attempt suicide more often than males [10,13,24,26].…”

Perfil demográfico e epidemiológico obtidos de questionários relacionados à qualidade de vida e do sono, ansiedade e depressão, conscientização à dor, estresse e hábitos parafuncionais de militares do Exército Brasileiro

“…Fato esse provavelmente relacionado ao impacto do estresse na questão de saúde pública, pois influencia tanto na questão dos gastos com tratamento de depressão, ansiedade, burnout, quanto no aspecto psicossocial de casos de suicídio (LOGAN et al, 2016;PRUITT et al, 2019;QUEIRÓS et al, 2020).…”