Suicide Prevention in the Military

In recent years, the conversation around the mental health crisis in the Military has expanded and become more open. According to the Department of Defense Annual report in 2023, 523 Military personnel died by suicide, which is heartbreaking. Of these deaths, firearms were the main method, with over 65 percent choosing this way to end their lives. This is a statistic that has to be made a priority and reduced.  

Many know that suicide can have a lasting effect on not only the deceased’s family but the wider community. This rings true for the military, which is a tight-knit, family-like community in every district. However, thankfully, many suicide prevention measures can be taken to prevent this type of tragedy from happening again and again.  Some of these measures include safe storage of firearms, government initiatives, and support services.  

Government Initiatives  

There are several government initiatives set up to support military personnel if they are struggling mentally and are in place to help prevent things from escalating to more devastating results. These include: 

• The Brandon Act was put in place so that military personnel can seek a mental health evaluation and a referral for any care they may need. It simplifies the process, leading to a quicker diagnosis and treatment.  

• My Military Health, like the Brandon Act, was introduced as a new program to reduce wait times for mental health screening. Since its placement, some sites have seen a 61% reduction in wait times, with some people previously waiting 30 days but are now just waiting seven days.  

• Targeted Care Intuitive is specifically for the Army and Navy, which adapts the Air Force’s program to increase access to any care needed due to deteriorating mental health.  

• TRICARE is a health care service for military personnel, including retired officers, their families, and any mental health survivors. It is a full medical service that includes mental health support for suicide prevention. It covers a range of care, including mental health problems, access to crisis hotline information, a line to talk directly to nurses, and various mental health treatments and programs. It gives military personnel and their families peace of mind.  

Safe Storage of Firearms 

The army’s official response to suicide prevention aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They both state that the best course of action is creating a protective environment, including safe storage. Many researchers believe that an attempt to take your own life can happen up to ten minutes after making the decision. So, they plan to increase the time and distance between the thought and the action. This opens the opportunity for a time in which reconsideration or intervention from a loved one could occur.  

For firearm owners, several steps can help in suicide prevention and unauthorized use resulting in an accident, these include: 

• The safe storage of your weapon is incredibly important. It should be stored inside a designated cabinet or box, i.e., a gun cabinet with preferably a lock. The gun itself should not be loaded and should have an empty barrel.  

• The keys to the cabinet, if lockable, should be stored in a different location, far away from he cabinet, up high out of the reach of children. 

• Like the keys, the ammunition should be stored in a secure place away from the keys and the cabinet to ensure as much safety as possible.  

• If you have small children in the house or if someone is struggling with their mental health, off-site storage might be the safest option of all, with storage facilities such as a gun shop and pre-paid storage housing people’s personal firearms.  

By using these safety steps and making the firearm less accessible, it can reduce death by suicide by up to 91%. Also, another notable fact is that individuals who survive a non-fatal suicide attempt, 90% will not attempt it again, so safe storage actually is effective in suicide prevention.  

Support Services 

Along with safe storage, the army has spent a lot of time focusing on improving access to care and providing support through different programs. There are a number of key resources, including: 

• Military Crisis Line, in which any military personnel can talk to a trained crisis counselor. They can contact by dialing 988, then pressing 1 or texting 838255. 

• Military OneSource provides a longer-term counseling service, and it can be accessed by any military personnel and their families.  

• Military and Family Life Counseling Program also offers confidential counseling for free.  

• Psychological Health Center of Excellence is also a place where resources and information on mental health can be found for military personnel. 

• Family Support Services for the Defense forces can also support families with members struggling with their mental health.  

Conclusion

Overall, if you need any help with your mental health and are struggling, just know that you are not alone, and help is there if you need it. For any other information on the safe storage of firearms or gunsmithing programs, go to MGS Trade School to learn more.

Written by: Ryan Clancy