A Demographic Analysis of Suicide Among U.S. Navy Personnel

Age-, sex-, race- & employment-adjusted standardized mortality ratios were calculated for sailors committing suicide between 1990-1996 & compared with adjusted standardized mortality ratios for civilians. Results showed fewer than expected suicides for Caucasian & African-American males & a somewhat higher than expected suicide rate among other ethnic group males & among Caucasian women. The suicide rate showed an increase during the study period with some evidence toward a clustering effect.