U.S. soldiers are overwhelmingly more likely to die by suicide than in combat, according to data from the Pentagon.
A five-year study from the Defense Health Agency, from 2014 to 2019, found suicide as the leading cause of death among active-duty soldiers. Compared to 96 combat deaths over the period, 883 soldiers died by suicide — nine times more. The second leading cause of death was accidents, with 814 deaths.
According to figures obtained by USA Today, the suicide rate among active-duty soldiers has climbed significantly since the end of the study in 2019, when the suicide rate was 28.8 per 100,000 soldiers. It rose to a record high in 2023, with 36.6 deaths per 100,000. The rate for 2024 is 31.8 per 100,000 through May, according to the outlet. So far, 55 soldiers have died by suicide this year.
Army officials speaking with the outlet blame the spike on wider trends in society, which have crossed over into the military. It outlined moves taken to minimize the suicide rate, including hiring dedicated professionals to address alcohol abuse, often a contributor to suicides. The Army has also begun teaching the safe storage of weapons, providing a buffer during suicidal impulses.
Suicide concerns are typically centered on veterans, who have a far higher rate of suicide than the public. A 2021 study from Brown University found that 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans of post-9/11 conflicts are confirmed to have died by suicide, with the majority, at least 22,261, being veterans. The study concluded that the actual number of suicides is likely much higher.
The study found that in addition to typical causes of stress and trauma from combat and military training, several factors unique to conflicts in the Global War on Terror exacerbated suicide rates.
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“But the study finds that there are factors unique to the post-9/11 era, including a huge increase in exposure to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), an attendant rise in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and modern medical advances that have allowed service members to survive these and other physical traumas and return to the frontlines in multiple deployments,” according to a summary of the study. “The combination of multiple traumatic exposures, chronic pain, and lasting physical wounds is linked to suicidal behaviors.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, dial 988.