Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON, DC – Far more U.S. soldiers are dying by suicide than on the battlefield.

And the numbers are increasing.

541 service members killed themselves last year, thirty service members, or nearly 6% more than the previous year.

The majority of U.S. military personnel taking their own lives are enlisted soldiers, aged in their late teens or in their 20s.

While those members compare with 46% of the U.S. population, their suicide rate is above 60%.

“I wish I could tell you we have an answer to prevent further, future suicides in the armed services. We don’t. We are caught up in what some call a national epidemic of suicide among our youth. And not just our youth, but it’s something we continue to wrestle with,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters last week.

“We just can’t let these great, young Americans take their lives because of financial pressure or relationship challenges, or whatever comes up. We need to help them. We need to start with prevention, but we need to work all the way through the system and really continue to get on top of this issue,” he said.

Late last week the U.S. Defense Department for the first time issued a report detailing suicides for the previous year. Known as the Annual Suicide Report, it sources information from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines, the Psychological Health Center of Excellence, the department’s Suicide Event Report, the Defense Manpower Data Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a letter to military and community leaders, James N. Stewart, the Pentagon’s Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness encouraged leaders to read the report and study its findings, noting the department “will focus on helping our young and enlisted service members develop and enhance skills to deal with life stressors.”

“We will also support our military families in understanding risk factors for suicide, identifying potential ‘red flags’ and how to intervene in a crisis.”

“The department remains committed in its efforts to prevent suicide,” Stewart wrote. “Each of us has a role in this most fundamental mission to help stop suicide and end this tragedy.”

The Veterans and Military Crisis Line is a toll-free, confidential resource, with support 24/7, that connects U.S. Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve, and their family members with qualified, caring responders.

The Veterans and Military Crisis Line, text-messaging service, and online chat provide free VA support for all Service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and all Veterans, even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care.

All Service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, along with their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online send a text message to 838255.

The Veterans and Military Crisis Line is staffed by caring, qualified responders from VA. Many are Veterans themselves. They understand what Service members have been through and the challenges that members of the military and their loved ones face.

Need crisis assistance while Overseas? The following overseas locations have direct crisis line numbers: In Europe: Call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118. In Korea: Call 0808 555 118 or DSN 118. In Afghanistan: Call 00 1 800 273 8255 or DSN 111. Crisis chat support is available internationally here.

(Photo credit: War on the Rocks).