Better Data On Suicides In The Military Will Save Lives

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Issues Statement on Department of Defense Suicide Event Data Quality Assessment Report

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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Nov 14, 2014, 12:52 ET

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's leading suicide prevention organization, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's statement about the release of the Department of Defense Suicide Event Data Quality Assessment Report (DODSER):

"The DOD has a duty to follow the recommendations in the DODSER and give the military valuable intelligence in the war on suicide – data that will help them put a stop to this tragic and preventable loss of life.

Our servicemembers are the best in the world, and when they fight in the field they need the best intelligence available to carry out their mission. But more of our soldiers are dying by suicide than in combat, and we need better information about their deaths to develop effective education, prevention and policy strategies.

In 2012, 349 servicemembers died by suicide. For the same year, there were 295 combat-related deaths. Additionally, veterans account for approximately 20 percent of all suicides, this is a serious issue that needs our national focus.

The issue of accurate data collection is an issue that we also face in civilian life. AFSP has and continues to advocate for full funding of the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), a collection of in-depth information on the details of and circumstances surrounding a suicide for the civilian population, including veterans. Information included in the NVDRS goes beyond the basic information collected through the CDC's National Vital Statistics Reports/Fatal Injury Report. Fully implementing the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) is also essential to developing, informing and evaluating suicide prevention programs."

Here is a link to where the report can be found: http://www.dodig.mil/pubs/report_summary.cfm?id=6048

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leader in the fight against suicide. We fund research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, AFSP has 67 local chapters with programs and events nationwide.

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention