While most headlines focus on the aftermath of the recent presidential election, the Department of Defense (DoD) quietly released its 2023 Annual Report on Suicide—a gut-wrenching reminder of how our service members are being failed by a broken system. The report reveals a grim reality: suicide among active-duty military personnel is at an all-time high, with 523 service members taking their own lives in 2023 alone, a steady increase since 2011. These numbers demand national attention, not silence.
Startlingly, suicides in the military have outpaced combat deaths by an alarming margin. According to the USO, since 9/11, 30,177 active-duty personnel and veterans have died by suicide, compared to 7,057 killed in combat. Let that sink in—our service members are four times more likely to die by suicide than in battle.
The DoD has poured billions into mental health programs, with a $1.4 billion budget request for fiscal year 2024. Despite these astronomical figures, the suicide rate continues to climb. Why? The missing puzzle piece might lie in what the DoD conveniently omits from its report: data on psychiatric drugs. The Military Times reported that from 2001 to 2009, the Defense Logistics Agency spent $1.1 billion on psychiatric medications, and use of these drugs has skyrocketed since. Yet, current spending figures remain a mystery.
The consequences of widespread psychiatric drug use are well-documented. Many antidepressants list side effects like anxiety, hallucinations, aggression, mania, psychosis, and—ironically—suicidality. Yet these same drugs are being prescribed to service members at unprecedented rates. One report estimates that 41% of military prescriptions are for central nervous system drugs, with 1 in 6 service members taking at least one psychiatric medication. How is this helping?
Compounding the issue, military entry standards prohibit recruits with certain mental health diagnoses, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, and gender dysphoria. Yet, once in service, billions are spent “treating” these same issues. It’s a glaring contradiction, made worse by policies that encourage treating symptoms instead of addressing root causes.
The military’s mental health approach isn’t working. Despite decades of increasing budgets, suicide rates continue to rise. Instead of confronting uncomfortable truths, the DoD doubles down on failed policies, all while hiding critical data. Where’s the accountability? Where’s the leadership? Democrats would rather spend billions on gender studies in Pakistan than fix this national crisis. It’s time for real change. America’s service members deserve better—better leadership, better solutions, and better lives.
