Department of Defense Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) Calendar Year 2010 Annual Report

Abstract

Abstract : The DoDSER program is a collaborative effort of the National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2) and the Services suicide prevention program offices. Since 1 January 2008, the DoDSER program has standardized suicide surveillance across the Services with the ultimate goal of facilitating the DoD's suicide prevention mission. When a death is ruled a suicide by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES), a designated professional from the respective Service reviews records, conducts interviews when appropriate, and responds to the DoDSER items via the secure web-based DoDSER application (https://dodser.t2.health. mil). As of 1 January 2010, all Services have been collecting data on both suicides and suicide attempts, with some Services collecting data on additional nonfatal suicide events. The DoDSER items collect comprehensive information about the Service Member and the suicide event. The AFMES indicates that 301 Service Members died by suicide in 2011 (Air Force = 50, Army = 167, Marine Corps = 32, Navy = 52). This number includes deaths strongly suspected to be suicides that are pending final determination. DoDSER Points of Contact (POCs) submitted reports for 100% of AFMES confirmed 2011 suicides (Air Force = 46, Army = 159, Marine Corps = 31, Navy = 51) as of the data extraction date (26 April 2012). A total of 915 Service Members attempted suicide in 2011 (Air Force = 241, Army = 432, Marine Corps = 156, Navy = 86). DoDSERs were submitted for 935 suicide attempts (Air Force = 251, Army = 440, Marine Corps = 157, Navy = 87). Of the 915 Service Members who attempted suicide, 896 had one attempt, 18 had two attempts, and 1 had three attempts.