Because of the impact of suicides in the military, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin established the Suicide Prevention Response and Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC) in 2022 to review all clinical and non-clinical suicide prevention and response programs.
The committee offered over 100 recommendations that the secretary used to develop a suicide prevention campaign focused on five key areas:
- Creating a supportive environment
- Improving mental health care
- Tackling stigma and other barriers to care
- Updating suicide prevention training
- Promoting safe practices around lethal means.
Since the campaign began, 20 of SPRIRC’s recommendations have been completed, with additional funding expected in 2025.
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