02-28-2022, 11:02 AM
Gaps in DOD’s Mental Health Care System Being Filled by Reddit
The suicide rate for young military service members aged 18-24 in 2020 was more than double
that of civilians in the same age bracket, and higher than those of all age demographics among
civilians, according to Department of Defense data and findings recently released by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past five years alone, the suicide rate among active
duty service members overall has increased by 41%.
Although young people in the United States report the highest level of social media use of any
demographic among the U.S. population, neither the U.S. Army nor the DoD has an official system
in place to respond to reports of mental health harm or distress online. The systems that are in
place – such as suicide hotline numbers – are often defunct, or only reachable during normal
business hours.
An unofficial subreddit, R/Army at https://www.reddit.com/r/arm, run by current and former
U.S. Army personnel has been forced to fill the gap left by an unresponsive DoD, providing
counseling to service members struggling with thoughts of self-harm. The members of this
subreddit are occupying this role without any funding or payment, and have systematically
documented the serious incidents they have encountered. Although the moderation team and users
of the subreddit have saved multiple lives and attempted to inform the DoD of flaws in their suicide
prevention program, the DoD has not officially responded.
The suicide rate for young military service members aged 18-24 in 2020 was more than double
that of civilians in the same age bracket, and higher than those of all age demographics among
civilians, according to Department of Defense data and findings recently released by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past five years alone, the suicide rate among active
duty service members overall has increased by 41%.
Although young people in the United States report the highest level of social media use of any
demographic among the U.S. population, neither the U.S. Army nor the DoD has an official system
in place to respond to reports of mental health harm or distress online. The systems that are in
place – such as suicide hotline numbers – are often defunct, or only reachable during normal
business hours.
An unofficial subreddit, R/Army at https://www.reddit.com/r/arm, run by current and former
U.S. Army personnel has been forced to fill the gap left by an unresponsive DoD, providing
counseling to service members struggling with thoughts of self-harm. The members of this
subreddit are occupying this role without any funding or payment, and have systematically
documented the serious incidents they have encountered. Although the moderation team and users
of the subreddit have saved multiple lives and attempted to inform the DoD of flaws in their suicide
prevention program, the DoD has not officially responded.