摘要：The US National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy) described 11 goals across multiple areas, including suicide surveillance. Consistent with these goals, the Department of Defense (DoD) has engaged aggressively in the area of suicide surveillance. The DoD's population-based surveillance system, the DoD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) collects information on suicides and suicide attempts for all branches of the military. Data collected includes suicide event details, treatment history, military and psychosocial history, and psychosocial stressors at the time of the event. Lessons learned from the DoDSER program are shared to assist other public health professionals working to address the National Strategy objectives. THE US NATIONAL STRATEGY for Suicide Prevention 1 (National Strategy) provided a framework for action in the United States. This “roadmap” directed a coordinated approach to suicide prevention for both public and private sectors that has guided efforts to modify attitudes, policies, and services. The National Strategy was published in 2001 and included 11 goals in areas that range from developing broad-based support for suicide prevention to improving entertainment and news media portrayals of suicidal behavior. Goal 11 was “Improve and Expand Surveillance Systems” and was the focus of this article. Since the release of the National Strategy, the military has experienced a rising suicide rate, 2 and Department of Defense (DoD) leaders have dedicated significant effort toward improving all areas of the suicide prevention mission, including surveillance approaches. 3 The DoD surveillance program provides an example of one approach to addressing surveillance challenges related to suicide. The purpose of this article was to review the DoD's suicide surveillance program, the DoD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER), and suggest how this effort can inform broader public health initiatives seeking to address some of the surveillance concerns detailed in the National Strategy.
