Press Releases

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response to the release of the Army’s Health Promotion, Risk Reduction, Suicide Prevention report. The Army, led by General Peter Chiarelli, conducted this study over the course of the last 15 months to help understand the alarming rate of suicides and high risk behavior in the service. The study also recommends a path forward to lower the number of suicides committed by service members.

“This report is heart aching and sobering.  My thoughts and prayers go out to military families and communities in my district and across the nation that have lost loved ones to suicide.”

“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am committed to providing our men and women in uniform with a high quality of life and the support services they need. Most observers will focus on the number of suicides in the Army, but I think it is most important to focus on what the Army is doing to prevent suicides, offer help to soldiers and promote resiliency in the force.

The full study can be read here. 

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