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Since 2017, suicide has been the leading cause of death for active-duty troops

The Pentagon's Annual Report on Suicide in the Military shows about 22 active-duty service members per 100,000 died by suicide in 2024, a 16% decrease from the prior year and the lowest total since 2020.
Despite the recent decline, the active-duty military suicide rate has increased by about a third since 2011, remaining elevated compared to a decade ago. Suicide has been the leading cause of death among active-duty troops since 2017.
Men accounted for 94% of active-duty suicides in 2024 despite comprising 83% of the military, with Army and Marine Corps members experiencing higher suicide rates than Air Force and Navy personnel.
Thomas Joiner, a Florida State University professor specializing in suicide prevention, said the military is "headed in the right direction, but it's still stigmatized generally," while mental health advocates note soldiers remain too nervous to seek help despite the Pentagon requesting $583 million in prevention resources.
Veterans face a 58% higher suicide risk than the general U.S. population, and Keith Hotle, CEO of Stop Soldier Suicide, emphasized that military vulnerability represents a shift from earlier eras when service members had lower risk than civilians.

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