Vet News: Army Releases November 2013 Suicide Information

Among active-duty soldiers, there were 14 potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and 13 remain under investigation. For October 2013, the Army reported 10 potential suicides among active duty soldiers: two have been confirmed as suicides, and eight are under investigation. For calendar year 2013, there have been 139 potential active duty suicides: 74 have been confirmed as suicides, and 65 remain under investigation. Updated active duty suicide numbers for calendar year 2012: 185 (184 have been confirmed as suicides, and one remains under investigation).

During November 2013, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were 10 potential suicides (six Army National Guard and four Army Reserve): one has been confirmed as suicide, and nine remain under investigation. For October 2013, among that same group, the Army reported 12 potential suicides; however, subsequent to the report, three more cases were added, bringing October's total to 15: five have been confirmed as suicides and 10 cases remain under investigation. For calendar year 2013, there have been 139 potential not on active duty suicides (89 Army National Guard and 50 Army Reserve): 94 have been confirmed as suicides, and 45 remain under investigation. Updated not on active duty suicide numbers for calendar year 2012: 140 (93 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve): 140 have been confirmed as suicides and none 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, seven days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their website.

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 Department of Veterans Affairs, 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, seven days a week, 365 days a year by visiting the Military Crisis Line website at militarycrisisline.net; Online Chat at 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 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or enrolled in VA health care.

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

Information about the Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign is located at army.mil/readyandresilient.

Army leaders can access current health promotion guidance in the revised Army Regulation 600-63 (Health Promotion) and in Army Pamphlet 600-24 (Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention).

Suicide prevention training resources for soldiers, leaders, Department of the Army civilians, and family members can be accessed at their website (requires Army Knowledge Online access to download materials).

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

Information about the Army's Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Program (CSF2) is located at 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 afsp.org, and the Suicide Prevention Resource Council site is found at sprc.org