Occupation and suicide among males in the US Armed Forces

During the period 1980 to 1992, 95% of the 3178 military suicide victims were men and 92% enlisted; of the men, 71% were aged 20 to 34, 82% were white, and 61% used a firearm. Information extracted from the Report of Casualty of the Worldwide Casualty System maintained by the Department of Defense was used to describe the occupational risk among military men. Occupations related to the use of or access to firearms were associated with a significant risk of suicide when compared to other military occupations. Collectively, military security and law enforcement specialists had a significant occupational rate ratio (1.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.53; P < 0.05). This corresponds to findings from national civilian labor force fatality data where police and detectives are also at an elevated risk of suicide. Because the scope and work of these military high-risk groups may differ from service to service, additional occupational information should be examined to facilitate a better understanding of the complex etiology of suicide and to develop appropriate prevention strategies.