In 2009, more US military personnel died by suicide than in battle. In 2010, there were 434 reported suicides, not including off-duty National Guardsmen or reservists, veterans, or those in the Individual Ready Reserve. The Center for a New American Security reported an average of one suicide by a US intelligence member every 36 hours from 2005 to 2010. Former military members make up 20% of all US suicides, despite only 1% of Americans serving in the military. The number of military deaths in Afghanistan doubled in 2009 compared to 2008, but the number of suicides decreased in the second half of 2011. The Department of Defense has increased personnel to help identify and assist at-risk military members and veterans.
More U.S. military personnel died by suicide than in battle in 2009. Branches of the U.S. military reported a total of 434 suicides in 2010, though this doesn’t include those of National Guardsmen or reservists who were off-duty active, veterans who took their lives after leaving active duty, or people in the Individual Ready Reserve, a group of approximately 123,000 people who are not assigned to any particular unit.
More facts about suicide among military personnel:
The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) reported that there was a suicide by a U.S. intelligence member an average of once every 36 hours from 2005 to 2010.
Former members of the military make up about 20% of all suicides in the United States. Only about 1% of Americans serve in the military.
The number of military deaths in Afghanistan doubled in 2009 compared to 2008.
Despite the long-term increase in suicides, the number of service members who took their own lives decreased during the second half of 2011. After July 2011, suicides decreased for several consecutive months.
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) has undertaken studies to better understand the causes of suicide among military personnel and increased the number of personnel to identify and help active duty members and at-risk veterans in its military branches and civilians.
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