[Discussion] GAO Finds Gaps in Military Suicide Prevention Training Oversight

GAO Finds Gaps in Military Suicide Prevention Training Oversight

A Government Accountability Office report released Wednesday found that the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps generally do not regularly track completion of required annual suicide prevention training or fully assess whether the instruction is effective. The Air Force was the only service identified as tracking completion data and maintaining an evaluation plan, though the GAO said that the effort still contains significant gaps.

Service members are required to complete suicide prevention training each year to learn warning signs, risk factors, referral procedures, and available mental health resources. According to the report, the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps headquarters offices do not routinely monitor training completion, while the National Guard Bureau was the only organization cited as taking action to help ensure compliance.

Effectiveness Reviews Remain Limited

Beyond completion rates, the GAO said most services have not fully evaluated whether the training achieves intended outcomes, such as improving awareness of suicide risk factors, promoting help-seeking behavior, and teaching intervention techniques for at-risk personnel.

The Air Force’s evaluation plan was described as more developed than those of the other services, but it met only three of 11 policy requirements for assessing training impact. The Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force use some post-training surveys, but the GAO said those efforts do not thoroughly measure the extent to which expected outcomes are achieved. The Navy, according to the report, has not developed a plan to evaluate the effectiveness of its suicide prevention program.

The GAO also said the Defense Department office responsible for suicide prevention policy and training does not require the services to report this information. Requiring such reporting, the watchdog said, would help the department make more informed oversight decisions.

Findings Come Amid Rising Suicide Rates

The report comes as military suicide rates have risen since 2011, according to a recent Pentagon annual review. The GAO characterized suicide prevention training as a core element of the department’s broader prevention effort, intended to ensure service members understand risk factors, know how to seek help, and can refer others for support.

The agency recommended stronger data collection to track how many personnel complete required instruction and more formal service-level plans for evaluating training effectiveness.

Brandon Act Awareness Draws Attention

Mental health advocates Patrick and Teri Caserta said the report reinforces long-standing concerns about education and awareness across the force. Their son, active-duty sailor Brandon Caserta, died by suicide in 2018 after they say he was repeatedly denied mental health care by his command.

Following his death, the family pushed for the Brandon Act, a federal law allowing troops to self-refer or confidentially request a mental health evaluation. The Casertas said many service members still do not know those rights exist and are working with lawmakers on legislation that would require Brandon Act information to be included in annual training.

Staffing Cuts May Affect Reform Efforts

The GAO also said civilian workforce reductions could hinder planned updates to suicide prevention training. In 2022, an independent panel established by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended replacing a uniform, large-auditorium training model with audience-specific instruction delivered in smaller groups and with varied duration and frequency.

DoD estimated implementation would cost $163 million and require 318 additional full-time civilian personnel. But in March 2025, the military began cutting civilian positions not deemed directly tied to operational priorities, including through a hiring freeze and deferred resignation program. Navy and Air Force officials told the GAO those changes have affected efforts to hire staff needed for reforms, though the services have not yet quantified the impact on suicide prevention programs.

View full article