Chapter 3 - Health
                               
Table 3.6 Suicide and open verdict deaths in the UK Regular Armed Forces: Numbers and                      Standardised Mortality Ratios, 1984 - 2008, males only
For each Service, and for the UK Regular Armed Forces as a whole, the overall SMR was statistically significantly lower than expected on the basis of rates in the UK general population. For the Naval Service the SMR was 45 (95% CI: 38-54) compared to the UK standard of 100, for the Army the SMR was 68 (95% CI: 62-75) and for the RAF the SMR was 45 (95% CI: 38-52).

For each Service and for the UK Regular Armed Forces as a whole, the age-specific mortality ratios for each age group were also lower than expected compared to the UK general population, with the exception of young Army males aged under 20 years. These young Army males have a 47% increased risk of suicides over the period 1984-2008 than their UK general population counterparts, a finding which is statistically significant. It is worth noting, however, that this figure has fallen from approximately 60% as reported for the 20 year period 1984-2003.
Age in years
    Total   <20   20-24   25-29   30-34   35-39   40+  
Total
   700   81   215   147   107   88   62  
     Standardised mortality ratio
   57   122   69   50   48   47   40  
     95% confidence interval
   (53-61)   (98-152)   (60-79)   (42-59)   (40-58)   (38-58)   (31-51)  
                               
Naval Service
   117   7   29   23   22   24   12  
     Standardised mortality ratio
   45   62   47   38   44   55   36  
     95% confidence interval
   (38-54)   (25-127)   (32-68)   (24-58)   (28-67)   (35-81)   (19-63)  
                               
Army
   427   68   154   83   53   44   25  
     Standardised mortality ratio
   68   147   85   54   49   52   46  
     95% confidence interval
   (62-75)   (116-186)   (72-99)   (44-67)   (37-64)   (39-70)   (30-68)  
                               
RAF
   156   6   32   41   32   20   25  
     Standardised mortality ratio
   45   68   47   50   49   35   38  
     95% confidence interval
   (38-52)   (25-148)   (33-66)   (37-69)   (34-69)   (21-54)   (25-56)  
Source: DASA (Health Information)