Military Suicide: Developing an Understanding of Basic Issues to Provide a Lower Risk Force
Abstract
In the last decade, the suicide rate for military personnel exceeded that of the general population; additionally, the suicide rate for military personnel more than doubled. This dramatic increase in suicide rates for the military gained significant public attention and the military then focused on preventing suicides for currently serving service members. An exploration of available research and demographic data identifies specific subpopulations at increased suicide risk prior to entering service. Comparisons of the Army Study to Assess Resilience and Risk in Servicemembers (STARRS), national mortality data, and national census data provided a more detailed view of the suicide decedent population. Both the general and military decedent populations present specific trends in behavior and demographics that lead to suicidal behaviors. The research suggests that a significant proportion of new service members enter service possessing the characteristics that will lead to suicidal behavior. These findings imply that the current suicide prevention programs may not fully address the underlying mental health issues associated with the young adult population. As a result, the services may be inadvertently recruiting service members with increased risk.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1039907
Entities
People
- Eric M. Remoy
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies