Suicides Continue to Rise in the Military

The incidence of suicide among U.S. Armed Forces members has continued to rise despite numerous programs and services intended to combat it. It is currently the third-leading cause of death for soldiers. Among the recommendations in a 2010 Department of Defense report, mandated by Congress in 2009, is a call for a suicide prevention division in the department to oversee and “standardize policies and procedures with respect to resiliency, military fitness, life skills, and suicide prevention in all branches of the military services.”