Suicide Prevention

Historically, active duty service members had lower rates of suicide than the general population; however, since 2005 the rates have increased dramatically, particularly among Soldiers and Marines. From 2005 to 2009 more than 1,100 members of the Armed Forces took their own lives: an average of one suicide every 36 hours. Suicide is a major public health issue in the United States, but it is important to recognize that suicide is a preventable tragedy. With help comes HOPE!

DoD Component and Service	CY 2022					CY 2023					CY 2024					CY 2025
DoD Component and Service	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total	Q1	Total
Active Component	75	88	90	80	333	91	89	83	102	365	91	71	75	67	304	71	71
Army	37	33	37	28	135	48	32	35	44	159	38	27	35	34	134	26	26
Marine Corps	8	17	26	14	65	13	13	19	18	63	13	10	13	11	47	18	18
Navy	14	23	13	21	71	17	21	12	18	68	22	15	11	12	60	15	15
Air Force	16	15	14	17	62	13	21	17	22	73	17	18	15	10	60	12	12
Space Force	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	1	1	1	0	3	0	0
Reserve Component	42	41	34	46	163	44	36	47	41	168	46	41	37	44	168	46	46
Reserve	19	18	15	13	65	18	14	17	25	74	24	17	6	15	62	17	17
Army Reserve	10	12	9	6	37	8	10	13	18	49	14	11	2	10	37	10	10
Marine Corps Reserve	3	1	1	2	7	4	3	1	2	10	3	1	1	2	7	2	2
Navy Reserve	2	3	1	1	7	4	0	2	2	8	4	2	2	1	9	2	2
Air Force Reserve	4	2	4	4	14	2	1	1	3	7	3	3	1	2	9	3	3
National Guard	23	23	19	33	98	26	22	30	16	94	22	24	31	29	106	29	29
Army National Guard	22	18	16	27	83	19	21	26	15	81	20	21	24	24	89	24	24
Air National Guard	1	5	3	6	15	7	1	4	1	13	2	3	7	5	17	5	5

DoD Component and Service	CY 2016	CY 2017	CY 2018	CY 2019					CY 2020					CY 2021
DoD Component and Service	Total	Total	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Active Component	280	288	326	93	71	84	101	349	89	80	113	101	383	76	97	70	85	328
Army	130	116	141	32	37	34	43	146	37	41	52	44	174	44	57	31	43	175
Marine Corps	37	43	57	14	6	11	16	47	14	10	20	19	63	13	8	13	9	43
Navy	52	65	68	22	13	19	19	73	19	11	20	15	65	12	18	14	15	59
Air Force	61	64	60	25	15	20	23	83	19	18	21	23	81	7	14	12	18	51
Space Force	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	0	0	0	0	0
Reserve Component	202	226	217	45	43	42	26	156	45	49	44	60	198	43	42	59	51	195
Reserve	80	93	81	21	16	17	12	66	20	25	13	19	77	15	14	21	24	74
Army Reserve	41	63	48	10	8	11	8	37	9	16	7	10	42	10	9	13	14	46
Marine Corps Reserve	19	10	19	5	1	1	2	9	2	2	2	4	10	2	3	4	4	13
Navy Reserve	10	9	11	2	2	3	0	7	5	3	2	3	13	3	1	1	5	10
Air Force Reserve	10	11	3	4	5	2	2	13	4	4	2	2	12	0	1	3	1	5
National Guard	122	133	136	24	27	25	14	90	25	24	31	41	121	28	28	38	27	121
Army National Guard	108	121	119	19	24	22	11	76	22	18	29	36	105	26	23	34	22	105
Air National Guard	14	12	17	5	3	3	3	14	3	6	2	5	16	2	5	4	5	16

Note: All figures above may be subject to change in future publications as updated information becomes available. Suicide counts (both confirmed and pending) are current as of April 15, 2025.

Are you, or someone you know, at risk for suicide?

Seek help immediately if you notice any of the following warning signs:

Threatening to hurt or kill oneself Looking for ways to kill oneself
Trying to get pills, guns, or other means to harm oneself
Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide
Feeling hopeless
Experiencing rage, uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities
Feeling trapped, like there’s no way out
Abusing drugs or alcohol
Withdrawing from friends or family
Having dramatic changes in mood
Feeling like there is no reason for living, no sense of purpose in life
Sleeping too much or too little
Giving away posessions

Veteran-Specific Risks

Frequent deployments
Deployments to hostile environments
Exposure to extreme stress
Physical/sexual assault while in the service (not limited to women)
Length of deployments
Service related injury

What are factors that help prevent suicide?

Family, friends, social support, close relationships, battle buddy
Coping/problem solving skills
Ongoing health and mental health care relationships
Reasons for living
Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support living

Myths and Realities About Suicide

Myth: Asking about suicide will plant the idea in a person’s head.

Reality: Asking about suicide does not create suicidal thoughts any more than asking about chest pain causes a heart attack. The act of asking the question simply gives the veteran permission to talk about his or her thoughts or feelings.

Myth: There are talkers and there are doers.

Reality: Most people who die by suicide have communicated some intent, wish, or desire to kill themselves. Willingness to talk about suicide offers an opportunity to intervene before suicidal behaviors occur.

Myth: If somebody really wants to die by suicide, there is nothing you can do about it.

Reality: Most suicidal ideas are associated with underlying conditions that are highly treatable, such as depression, anxiety, or health problems. Providing treatment for these underlying conditions can save a life. The acute risk for suicide is often time-limited. It is vital to be able to help someone find a safe environment to survive the immediate crisis.

Myth: He/she really wouldn’t commit suicide because…

he just made plans for a vacation
she has young children at home
he made a verbal or written promise
she knows how dearly her family loves her

Reality: Suicidal thinking can overwhelm even the most rational person. Anyone experiencing significant suicidal thoughts must be taken seriously and referred to a health care provider who can evaluate their condition and provide treatment as appropriate.

Where to Get Help

The VA has a national suicide prevention program that identifies, screens, assesses, refers, tracks, and treats veterans at risk. In addition, many states and communities have local resources you can turn to for help.

Veterans Suicide Prevention

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Veterans can call the Lifeline number, 988, and press “1” to be routed to the Veterans Suicide Prevention hotline. If you prefer not to talk to a VA counselor, calling the Lifeline number will route you to one of the nine crisis centers that are accredited to operate a suicide prevention hotline.

Veterans Chat

Veterans Chat allows veterans, their families, and friends to anonymously chat with a trained VA counselor. If during the on-line chat it is determined that the person is in crisis, the counselor can take immediate steps to transfer the person to the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline, where further crisis intervention, counseling and referral services are provided. To access online chat services, please visit the https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/

VA Suicide Prevention Coordinators

Each VA Medical Center has a Suicide Prevention Coordinator to make sure veterans receive needed counseling and services. To locate your Suicide Prevention Coordinator, please visit Find VA Locations | Veterans Affairs.