Military Suicide: Preliminary Observations on Actions Needed to Enhance Prevention and Response Affecting Certain Remote Installations

What GAO Found

The Department of Defense's (DOD) suicide prevention and response efforts have faced challenges, according to GAO's preliminary analysis. These include assessing suicide risk at remote installations outside the contiguous U.S. (OCONUS), implementing key prevention activities, integrating prevention in primary care, and providing response guidance and training for key personnel.

Suicide risk at remote OCONUS installations. GAO's preliminary analysis suggested that remote OCONUS installations accounted for a slightly higher proportion of reported suicide attempts, but a lower proportion of reported suicide deaths relative to the proportion of servicemembers assigned to these locations in 2016-2020. DOD and military service officials stated that suicide deaths at OCONUS installations may be lower because servicemembers assigned to installations outside the U.S. have limited access to non-military issued firearms. Separately, DOD-, service-, and installation-level officials GAO interviewed identified risk factors for suicide and related challenges at remote OCONUS installations, such as less access to mental health services and increased isolation. However, DOD has not fully assessed suicide risk at these installations. Establishing a process to do so could enhance related suicide prevention efforts.

Policies, programs, and activities. DOD and the military services have established suicide prevention policies, programs, and activities—such as training and mental health resources—for servicemembers and dependents, including those assigned to remote OCONUS installations. However, gaps exist in implementation. For example, the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps have not ensured implementation of some prevention activities, such as establishing required prevention teams at installations. By establishing oversight mechanisms, these services may have greater assurance that such activities are implemented across all installations, including remote OCONUS locations.

Privacy protection and suicide prevention in primary care. DOD and the military services have established privacy protections for servicemembers and dependents seeking suicide prevention care. DOD has also taken steps to integrate suicide prevention into primary care by establishing screening requirements and embedding behavioral health personnel in some primary care clinics. However, GAO's preliminary analysis found that DOD has experienced staffing shortages for these personnel, in part because it has not developed a strategy to address hiring challenges. By developing such a strategy, DOD can enhance the provision of behavioral health care to servicemembers and dependents, including at remote OCONUS installations.

Guidance and training for key personnel. DOD and the military services have established some suicide response guidance and training for key personnel, but gaps exist. For example, DOD has established guidance that fully addresses commanders' response to suicide deaths, but not suicide attempts. Further, according to GAO's preliminary analysis, DOD has not established statutorily required training for commanders on responding to suicide deaths and attempts. By establishing comprehensive suicide response guidance and training for commanders, DOD can better ensure that commanders are prepared to provide support to suicide attempt survivors and the bereaved.

Why GAO Did This Study

Suicide deaths and attempts within the military community are devastating events for families. They can also harm unit morale and readiness. Remote OCONUS installations may pose challenges that increase suicide risk.

This statement examines, among other things, (1) the incidence of suicide and related risk factors among servicemembers at remote OCONUS installations during 2016-2020. It also discusses the extent to which DOD and the military services have, in relation to remote OCONUS installations (2) established and ensured implementation of policies, programs, and activities that address suicide prevention; (3) established privacy protections for servicemembers and dependents seeking suicide prevention care and integrated suicide prevention into primary care; and (4) established guidance and training for key personnel for responding to suicide deaths and attempts.

This preliminary analysis is included in GAO's draft report, which was provided to DOD in March for review and comment. For that report, GAO analyzed data, policies, and guidance; reviewed documentation from 57 installations; and interviewed DOD and military service officials.