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The U.S. Department of Defense Has an Excellent System to Report and Track Suicides, but It Could Benefit from Additional Guidance and Improvements

• The U.S. Department of Defense Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) system helps monitor suicides in the military and generally surpasses similar systems used in civilian settings, but it would benefit from certain improvements.
• DoDSER lacks a field to indicate data sources, making it difficult to compare data, analyze trends, or determine the reliability of information, particularly for reservists and National Guard members who are not on active duty.
• DoD currently has no policies or procedures addressing what to do after a suicide death to prevent subsequent suicides, though resources are available to help those bereaved, and processes are in place to honor the service member and his or her family. The limited research literature points to potential opportunities to improve the current system, including screening service members in high-risk groups and helping support personnel recognize and treat those experiencing debilitating grief.

Military Suicide Loss Survivors Report a Range of Experiences in Navigating DoD Support Programs

• In interviews, military suicide loss survivors reported different experiences with DoD-provided casualty assistance officers (CAOs). Some found these officers extremely knowledgeable and supportive, while others felt that their CAO provided confusing or conflicting information.
• Loss survivors felt that the next of kin of service members who had died by suicide were treated differently by the military and that parents of service members were treated differently from spouses.
• Loss survivors found the investigative process emotionally difficult and found it challenging to navigate the administrative requirements in applying for benefits -- something that must occur soon after a death.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has been struggling with increasing rates of suicide among military personnel for the past decade. As DoD continues to implement new programs and examine its policies in an effort to prevent military personnel from taking their own lives, it is important to assess its current responses to suicide and to identify opportunities to enhance these programs and policies. Unfortunately, there is little scientific evidence on how best to respond to suicides, how to ensure that surveillance activities are managed appropriately and that loss survivors are given sufficient support to grieve, how additional suicides can be prevented, and how to honor and respect the decedent and his or her loved ones. At the same time, there are many resource guides intended to provide recommendations for organizations (mostly schools) in responding to suicides. A review of the existing scientific evidence on postvention (responses to prevent additional suicides in the aftermath of a suicide) and guidance for other types of organizations provides potential insights for DoD, however. Complemented by the perspectives of those most intimately touched by military suicide — the family and friends of those who have died — these sources may help DoD formulate its guidance in a practical and sensitive way.

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  Surveillance

• Chapter Three

  Suicide Prevention After a Suicide

• Chapter Four

  Helping Loss Survivors Grieve

• Chapter Five

  Honor and Respect

• Chapter Six

  Loss Survivors' Perspectives

• Chapter Seven

  Recommendations

• Appendix A

  Postvention Guides Reviewed

• Appendix B

  Content Analysis of Resource Guides