Suicide

Pentagon Annual Suicide Report

The following is the Sept. 25, 2019 report, Department of Defense (DoD) Annual Suicide Report (ASR).

From the report

Executive Summary

The Department of Defense (DoD) is committed to preventing suicide within the military. Over the past decade, the Department has made strides in establishing an infrastructure for preventing military suicide by aligning our strategy with the public health approach; establishing policy guidance and an enterprise-wide suicide prevention governance body; standardizing...

https://news.usni.org/2019/09/26/pentagon-annual-suicide-report

USS George H.W. Bush CO Acknowledges String of Suicides

Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) grieve at a memorial service for Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Juan G. Medina Reynaga on Sept. 18, 2019. US Navy Photo

Three sailors from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) took their lives last week the ship’s commanding officer confirmed to the crew and community in a Facebook post late Monday.

Capt. Sean Bailey, Bush’s commanding officer, posted a note expressing his sadness over what has been an especially challenging...

https://news.usni.org/2019/09/23/uss-george-h-w-bush-co-acknowledges-string-of-suicides

Navy Grappling with Effects of USS George H. W. Bush Suicides

Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) sing the Navy Hymn during a memorial service for Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Robert “Bobby” John Bartulewicz III on July 14, 2019. US Navy Photo

Navy and local agencies are investigating the circumstances surrounding last week’s suicides of three sailors assigned to USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). Meanwhile, the service has also increased counseling and support for the ship’s crew, Navy officials told USNI News on Tuesday.

The...

https://news.usni.org/2019/09/24/navy-grappling-with-effects-of-uss-george-h-w-bush-suicides

Death of Former 5th Fleet CO Stearney Ruled a Suicide

Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet aboard USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) on Oct. 24, 2018. US Navy Photo

The death of the former commander of U.S. Navy forces in the Middle East has been ruled a suicide, according to a February Navy report obtained by USNI News on Wednesday.

The preliminary inquiry into the Dec. 1 death of Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, led by NCIS agents in Bahrain, determined that the former 5th Fleet commander had killed himself in...

https://news.usni.org/2019/06/12/death-of-former-5th-fleet-co-stearney-ruled-a-suicide

Navy Rethinking Suicide Prevention as Rates Across Military Rise

Sailors attached to U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), attends a candle light vigil in observance of Suicide Prevention month in 2018. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON — The Navy is rethinking how it addresses suicides after two years of rising rates in the service. While there’s wide recognition among the senior leadership of the problem, quick fixes don’t exist and resources are stretched thin.

Increasing access to mental health providers and training sailors to spot people at risk of...

https://news.usni.org/2019/04/03/42379

U.S., U.K. Sailors Died Days After Death of Former 5th Fleet CO Stearney

Riverine sailors underway in 5th Fleet in 2018. US Navy Photo

A U.S. and U.K. sailor assigned to U.S. 5th Fleet died suddenly in the days after the Dec. 1 apparent suicide of Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, USNI News has learned.

While investigations are underway into all three of the deaths, several defense officials have told USNI News the circumstances of all three deaths point to suicide.

The closeness of the deaths have raised defense officials’ concerns that Stearney’s high-profile status may have...

https://news.usni.org/2019/01/03/u-s-u-k-sailors-died-days-death-former-5th-fleet-co-stearney

Navy Sees Sudden Rise in Suicide Rate Since 2015; Unclear on Causes

A sailor plays ‘Taps.’ US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON – Over the past two years, the number of active duty sailors who committed suicide grew rapidly at a time the overall number of active duty service members taking their lives increased more modestly, according to data from the Department of Defense obtained by USNI News.

The sudden death of U.S. 5th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Scott Stearney in what is an apparent suicide is part of a troubling trend for the service. During 2017 and the first half...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/11/navy-suicide-rate-rising-faster-than-dod

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