Active Monitoring of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for Military Personnel

Abstract

The Department of Defense (DoD) faces a serious challenge as suicide is now the leading cause of death for active-duty military personnel. Despite the DoD’s attempts to improve its suicide prevention program, suicide rates have not decreased for service members and continue to exceed the civilian population. This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of existing strategies within the Army, Navy, and Air Force, identifying implementation gaps and opportunities for innovative approaches to improve mental health and suicide prevention. This study utilized quantitative, comparative, and retrospective analysis, evaluating trends within suicide rate, suicide count, and population size of the Army, Navy, and Air Force from 2011 to 2023. Findings show disparities between active-duty military and civilian populations, along with differences across service branches in suicide rate and program effectiveness. Recommendations emphasize adopting innovative and tailored suicide prevention methods, enhancing access to mental health resources, embedding professionals in units, strengthening Lethal Means Safety with a tracking system for weapons, and launching a minimally invasive pilot program requiring quarterly service member check-ins. This research aims to help the DoD strengthen early detection, reduce stigma, and enhance intervention efforts to reduce suicide rates, promote a supportive culture, and ensure mission readiness for the U.S. military.