November 2023 — MHCE Newsletter

WWW.MHCE.US Monthly Newsletter | 13
to address suicides in the
ranks.
The independent panel
recommended the department
implement a series of gun safety
measures to reduce suicides
in the force, including waiting
periods for the purchase of
firearms and ammunition by
service members on military
property.
The panel said the department
should also raise the minimum
age to 25 for service members
to buy guns and ammunition
and should require anyone
living in military housing
to register privately owned
firearms. In addition, the panel
said the department should
restrict the possession and
storage of privately owned
firearms in military barracks
and dorms.
Austin released a memo
last month outlining more
than 100 recommendations
to be implemented by 2030
to address the suicide crisis
in the military. Some of the
recommendations included
expanding telehealth services,
increasing appointment
availability by revising the
mental health staff model,
launching a comprehensive
public education campaign on
firearm safety, and updating the
amount of suicide prevention
training. The department
chose not to implement the
firearm changes at the time.
“There is no single solution
to preventing suicide, but I
remain focused on actions that
will make a real difference
and change the culture around
this critical challenge,” Austin
said in a statement. “Together,
we can prevent suicide and
take care of every outstanding
patriot who steps up to defend
our country.”
The 2022 suicide report also
included data about military
family suicides for 2021.
The military family suicide
rate is about 6.5 suicides per
100,000 family members, a
16% decrease from 2020.