DoD Task Force reports rising incidence of suicide among military members

The DoD Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces today submitted  a comprehensive and candid report to the Secretary of Defense as the culmination of a year-long study into the rising incidence of suicide among members of the military. Upon approval, the Secretary will submit the report to Congress for formal review.

While reports from similar studies have recently been issued by individual branches of the Service, the DoD Task Force is unique in its charter as an independent body of uniformed and civilian experts- across all Services, established by Congressional mandate in the FY09 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  Operating within the Federal Advisory Committee Act guidelines, the Task Force has been an independent subcommittee of the Defense Health Board, responsible to the Secretary of Defense, through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

Underscoring the critical work undertaken by the Task Force in  addressing the rising incidence of suicide among military personnel,  Task Force Co-Chair Major General (Dr.) Philip Volpe, United States Army, stated,  "Having any one of our nation's Warriors die by suicide is not acceptable; not now, not ever.  This report is a call for more effective action.  It will not only help save lives, it will strengthen the force.  The opportunity is here, and the time is now." Volpe said.  "Suicide is preventable."

Since its formation in August, 2009, the Task Force mandate has been to look at the issue of suicide across all branches of the military at all levels, to "make recommendations regarding a comprehensive policy designed to prevent suicide by members of the Armed Forces."   Specific deliverables as outlined in the Congressional memorandum directed the Task Force to:

• Assess the Services' suicide prevention and education programs
• Assess if any military career fields have higher risk
• Assess trends and causal factors of military suicides
• Assess the processes and procedures for military suicide investigations

Membership in the Task Force consisted of a total of 14 members with seven DoD and seven non-DoD experts, including at least one representative each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps; and one family member with a background in working with military families.*  Task Force Co-Chairs were Major General (Dr.) Philip Volpe, U.S. Army, and Ms. Bonnie Carroll, Founder and Executive Director of TAPS, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

The investigative process employed by the Task Force included a combination of focus groups, public hearings, literature reviews, top-level briefings, and personal visits by Task Force delegations to 19 military installation sites over the course of the year. The site visits were typically two days long and included Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps installations around the country. The delegations met and spoke with a variety of groups separately, including junior enlisted members (including recruits and trainees), NCOs, commissioned officers of varying ranks (including installation and unit leaders at all levels); behavioral health clinicians, emergency room clinicians, and primary care clinicians; installation support services personnel, first responders, and chaplains; and family members.

The final report of the Task Force includes a total of 49 major findings and 76 associated recommendations across four primary target areas, termed "Focus Areas " which include:  Organization and Leadership; Wellness Enhancement and Training; Access to, and Delivery of, Quality Care;  Surveillance, Investigations and Research.  

In addition, the Task Force outlined what it refers to as 13 "Foundational Recommendations," or truly actionable proposed changes that it believes will have the most significant impact on reversing the rising trend of military suicides, as follows:

13 Foundational Recommendations (summarized):

1. Create a "Suicide Prevention (SP) Policy Division" in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to achieve unity of effort through standardization.
2. Keep SP programs in the leaders' lane (with the Services) and create tools to assist leaders in preventing suicide.
3. Reduce stress on the force; balance the supply and demand mismatch.
4. Focus efforts on Service Member (SM) well-being and total fitness (mind, body & spirit); develop SM life skills & resiliency.
5. Develop a comprehensive stigma reduction campaign plan to enhance "help seeking" behaviors.
6. Strengthen strategic messaging to emphasize positive messages that influences behaviors.
7. Develop skills-based training for SMs and their buddies, families, supervisors and leaders, clergy, and behavioral health personnel.
8. Incorporate program evaluation into all SP programs to assess effectiveness.
9. Coordinate & leverage "community" health services; both on and off our installations.
10. Ensure continuity & management of quality behavioral health care; and actively manage transitions.
11. Mature & expand the Department of Defense Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) to serve as the main surveillance tool to inform SP efforts.
12. Standardize suicide and attempted suicide investigations, to include the use of psychological autopsies; and pattern suicide investigations after aviation safety investigation processes and procedures.
13. Support and fund ongoing DoD suicide prevention research to close knowledge gaps, inform suicide prevention efforts, and enhance evidence-based practices and solutions.

"The number of our service members who have lost their lives to suicide is a tragedy," said Task Force co-chair Bonnie Carroll.  "They were heroes of our nation, who volunteered to serve and sacrifice when our country called. We must empower our military and our families to support our troops in their troubles as well as in their triumphs," Carroll stated.