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Suicides dropped in the military in 2021, but Pentagon says mental health challenges remain

The number of suicides in the active-duty U.S. military declined last year over the same period in 2020, which Pentagon officials are calling an encouraging sign while warning that much work remains to be done.

According to the just-released Annual Report of Suicide in the Military For Calendar Year 2021, there were 328 active-duty suicides last year compared to 384 in 2020. Pentagon figures also show a slight dip in suicides in the part-time ranks: 74 in 2021 compared to 77 in 2020 for reserve personnel and 117 in 2021 compared to 119 for troops in the National Guard.