The Army recently released suicide data for the month of August.
Among active-duty soldiers, there were 19 potential suicides: three have been confirmed as suicides and 16 remain under investigation.
For July, the Army reported 22 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, five cases have been confirmed as suicide, and 17 cases remain under investigation.
During August, among reserve-component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were nine potential suicides: none have been confirmed as suicide and nine remain under investigation.
For July, the Army reported 10 potential suicides among not-on-active-
duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, one case has been added for a total of 11 cases. Three cases have been confirmed as suicide and eight cases remain under investigation.
“Suicide prevention training and awareness are vital components of the Army’s health promotion and risk-reduction efforts against the tragic occurrence of suicide within our ranks,” said Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1.
“It is a priority that deserves our full attention and continued emphasis by all leaders. Junior leaders and first-line supervisors can be especially effective in assisting those in a moment of crisis. We collaborate extensively with other federal and national programs to assure we remain abreast of the very latest research and best practices.
“To date, our focused efforts have resulted in thousands of trained individuals throughout the Army who now have the skills to recognize the signs of suicide, exercise appropriate intervention techniques and engage the numerous organizations within the Army and DoD that stand ready to help at any hour of the day or night.
“These skills are invaluable and have equipped many in our Army to lend a hand to fellow soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and their families in their daily encounters.”