NORFOLK, Va. — Military suicides are on the rise again.
A new report published Thursday shows that the number of U.S. military members taking their own lives increased by 9% in 2023.
The document says that 523 troops died that year, compared to 493 the year before.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, "one suicide is one too many."
"While much progress has been made, Secretary Austin has been clear that there is still much work to do. And he won't let up," said Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabina Singh, during a news conference on Thursday.
The numbers have steadily risen since 2011.
The data shows that firearms remain a leading cause of suicide death for military service members and their families.