Vet News: Army Releases August 2013 Suicide Information

The Army released suicide data today for the month of August 2013. During August, among active-duty Soldiers, there were 12 potential suicides: Two have been confirmed as suicides and 10 remain under investigation. For July 2013, the Army reported 19 potential suicides among active-duty Soldiers: three have been confirmed as suicides and 16 are under investigation. For CY 2013, there have been 106 potential active-duty suicides: 51 have been confirmed as suicides and 55 remain under investigation. Updated active-duty suicide numbers for CY 2012: 185 (171 have been confirmed as suicides and 14 remain under investigation).

During August 2013, among reserve component Soldiers who were not on active duty, there were eight potential suicides (five Army National Guard and three Army Reserve): One has been confirmed as a suicide and seven remain under investigation. For July 2013, among that same group, the Army reported eight potential suicides; however, subsequent to the report, two more cases were added bringing July’s total to 10 (eight Army National Guard and two Army Reserve): Three have been confirmed as suicides and seven cases remain under investigation. For CY 2013, there have been 102 potential not on active duty suicides (66 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve): 70 have been confirmed as suicides and 32 remain under investigation. Updated not on active duty suicide numbers for CY 2012: 140 (93 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve): 138 have been confirmed as suicides and two remain under investigation.

Soldiers and Families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained consultants are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their website at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

The Military Crisis Line offers free and confidential support to Service members in crisis or anyone who knows a Service member who is. The service is staffed by caring, qualified responders from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), many who have served in the Military themselves. Support is offered through the crisis line, online chat, and text-messaging services for all Service members (Active, National Guard and Reserve) and Veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by visiting the Military Crisis Line website at http://www.militarycrisisline.net; Online Chat at: http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatTermsOfService.aspx; sending a text to: 838255 or calling toll free at: 1-800-273-8255, Press 1; in Europe Dial: 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118. Services are available even if members are not registered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or enrolled in VA health care.

The Army's comprehensive list of Suicide Prevention Program information is located at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/default.asp.

Information about the Army’s Ready and Resilient campaign is located at http://www.army.mil/readyandresilient

Army leaders can access current health promotion guidance in the revised Army Regulation 600-63 (Health Promotion) at: http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r600_63.pdf and in Army Pamphlet 600-24 (Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention) at http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p600_24.pdf.

Suicide prevention training resources for Soldiers, leaders, Department of the Army Civilians, and Family members can be accessed at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/training_sub.asp?sub_cat=20 (requires Army Knowledge Online access to download materials).

Information about Military OneSource is located at www.militaryonesource.com or by dialing the toll-free number 1-800-342-9647 for those residing in the continental U.S. Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource web site for dialing instructions for their specific location.

Information about the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Program (CSF2) is located at http://csf2.army.mil/.

The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020, via electronic mail at [email protected].

The website for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is http://www.afsp.org/, and the Suicide Prevention Resource Council site is found at http://www.sprc.org