Military suicides were on the rise last year, despite a massive investment in prevention programs
Military suicides have once again increased last year, continuing a troubling trend that the Pentagon has been struggling to address. In 2023, there were 523 reported suicides, up from 493 in 2022. The number of active-duty troops who died by suicide also rose from 331 to 363, a 12% increase.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death for service members, surpassing training accidents, illnesses, homicides, and combat-related fatalities, according to the Defense Department. The rate of suicides per 100,000 individuals also saw an uptick last year. This concerning trend of rising suicide deaths among active-duty service members has been ongoing since 2011.
Despite efforts to combat this issue, the rates of military suicides are comparable to those in the general population when adjusted for age and gender. Dr. Elizabeth Clark, the director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office, emphasized that while a 12% increase may seem significant, statistical significance requires changes in multiple factors, especially in smaller populations like the military.
The data also revealed that a significant percentage of suicide victims had sought help before their death. Sixty-seven percent had a primary care encounter in the 90 days leading up to their suicide, 34% had visited an outpatient mental health center, and 8% had been discharged from an in-patient mental health facility. Additionally, 18% were on psychotropic medication at the time of their death. Within a year before their suicide, 44% reported intimate relationship problems, and 42% had a behavioral health diagnosis.
The Pentagon has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in suicide prevention efforts in recent years and allocated over half a billion dollars for the issue in 2025. Following a mandate from Congress in 2022, the Suicide Prevention Response and Independent Review Committee was established to provide recommendations to address military suicides.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged the urgent need for the Department to intensify its efforts in suicide prevention and postvention in light of the new findings. The committee’s recommendations include enhancing mental health care delivery, addressing stigma and barriers to care, and revising suicide prevention training.
The Marine Corps saw the largest increase in suicides, followed by the Army, Air Force, and Navy. Enlisted males under 30 accounted for 61% of the victims. Moving forward, troops can expect more dynamic and personalized suicide prevention training to effectively address this critical issue.
The Pentagon is committed to implementing strategies that have a tangible impact on reducing military suicides and ensuring the well-being of service members. By prioritizing mental health care, addressing stigma, and providing comprehensive training, the military aims to combat this alarming trend and support the mental health of its personnel.
