Teen Suicide Risk in Military Families: Early Warning Signs to Watch

June 30, 2025

Authored by: Jayme Wium, Writer

Edited by: Emma Loker, B.S.

Teenagers who grow up in military families often learn how to “keep it together.” They know how to say goodbye, adapt fast, and stay strong – at least on the outside. But all of this strength can come at a cost.

Constant changes, such as new homes, schools, and long deployments, can cause some teens to feel lost. Not just lonely, but unmoored. When there’s no stable ground, no time to process, and no one to notice signs of distress, negative feelings can build. This means that teen suicide risk in military families can increase.

Statistics from a 2022 study paint a bleak picture about suicide in teen communities. According to the study, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death overall in the USA and the second leading cause of death among teens between 10-14.²

However, teens in military families are more likely to think about or attempt suicide than their civilian peers.¹ For instance, teenagers who frequently move and face emotional struggles without support are at higher risk. Plus, in military homes, where strength is expected and emotions often stay hidden, the warning signs can be easy to miss.

If you’re concerned about the risk of suicide in a teen, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible. This guide walks you through the following aspects of getting help for suicidal military teens:

Recognizing suicidal behavior teens
Why adolescents are at higher risk of suicidal thoughts
Understanding behavioral red flags and suicide warning signs in teens
Suicide prevention resources for military teens and their families
How to create a teen mental health emergency plan

Recognizing Suicide Warning Signs in Teens: What Military Families Need to Know

A teen doesn’t need to say the word “suicide” out loud for something to be wrong. In fact, many struggling teens hide their distress until it starts slipping out in other ways, like a drop in grades, outbursts of anger, reckless choices, or complete emotional shutdown.

Studies show that teens show emotional, verbal, and behavioral warning signs before attempting suicide.³ Based on these findings, the following are some common suicide warning signs in teens to watch for:

Withdrawal from friends and loved ones
Lack of interest in activities they used to enjoy
Talking about feeling hopeless, useless, or like a burden
Sudden changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels
Giving away personal belongings or saying goodbye in subtle ways
Self-harm signs in adolescents, like cutting or burning
Increased use of drugs or alcohol
Uncharacteristically high-risk behaviors in military teens
Writing, drawing, or posting about death, suicide, or escape

However, the warning signs of suicide can look different from teen to teen. For instance, some military teens may mask distress with humor, overachievement, or detachment – but this doesn’t always mean they’re okay.

One study found that humor is often used consciously or unconsciously to manage negative emotions and maintain self-esteem during distress.⁴ One bad day might be just that – so it’s important to pay attention to patterns, not just moments.

Why Adolescents Are at Higher Risk of Suicide

The adolescent brain is still developing. The amygdala and limbic system, which are the emotional centers, tend to develop faster than the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that manages impulse control.⁵ This developmental gap means emotions can hit hard, but the brakes can come late. For instance, when teens are under stress, they may be more inclined to react impulsively instead of taking the time to pause and problem-solve.

Additionally, research indicates that adolescent brains are particularly sensitive to social stress factors like perceived failure and rejection.⁶ Plus, without stable coping mechanisms or support, these feelings of stress can seem unbearable, and sometimes, escape becomes the only option they can see.

Further, in military families, teens may face repeated goodbyes, unpredictable routines, or the emotional aftermath of a parent returning from deployment. One study noted that adolescents exposed to stress such as this are more vulnerable to mood disorders and suicidal ideation. This is especially the case if they can’t find ways to healthily manage their distress.⁷

Suidal thinking isn’t about weakness. It’s the outcome of biology, timing, and the absence of consistent emotional support. However, help and support are always available – especially if a teen knows where to look for it.

Why Some Military Teens Don’t Ask for Help

In military culture, strength often means self-sufficiency. For this reason, emotional pain may be seen as something to manage quietly. Adolescents growing up in such an environment may believe that asking for help is socially risky.

For instance, teenagers might fear seeking mental health help if they think it might affect their parents’ careers or disrupt family stability. This fear could be amplified in tightly structured environments where privacy feels limited and mental health conversations feel formal, monitored, or potentially reportable.

Confidentiality is another barrier to teens asking for help. When they’re unsure who will be informed – whether their parents, school, or military command – they often stay silent. For example, research shows that perceived confidentiality strongly influences whether adolescents reach out during a crisis.⁸ When this trust is missing, help remains out of reach.

There’s also the effect of internalized stigma. Mental health challenges are often incorrectly viewed as weakness, especially when strength and emotional control are held in high regard. Further, in families managing high stress or frequent relocation, emotional needs can be unintentionally placed lower on the list of importance. Over time, this can lead teens to believe their pain is either irrelevant or burdensome.

To open a path forward, support systems need to be visible and safe. This means providing access to confidential care and adults who respond with warmth. When teens believe they’ll be heard without consequence, they’re more likely to speak.

Suicide Prevention in Military Adolescents: The Role of Peer Connection in Suicide Prevention

Protecting against teen suicide often requires authentic and emotionally supportive peer relationships. Military adolescents relocate and restart their social lives repeatedly. This can make keeping strong friendships alive a challenge. Yet when a teen feels seen, understood, and supported by friends, they’re less likely to feel lonely and isolated.

Close friendships can even prevent thoughts of suicide.⁹ Research shows that even if a military teen has one trusted friend, they tend to be more emotionally resilient and have a better sense of belonging, even in unfamiliar environments.¹⁰

Peer support groups can also be helpful in pinpointing early suicide warning signs in teens.¹¹ These are groups led by teens who have been trained to recognize distress in their peers and offer judgment-free support. Qualified therapists usually oversee these groups and provide grounding and a level of trust. These programs can also help refer a teen in need to trusted adults or professionals when help is needed.

Peer support groups for military parents can help caregivers identify issues when they arise, understand how to stay curious without pressuring, and create space for expressing difficult emotions. When parents stay connected to their teen’s social world – without controlling it – they’re better positioned to intervene early.

Suicide Prevention Resources for Military Teens and Their Families

Support is available, and it’s often closer than families realize. Military teens and their caregivers can access confidential help through a number of channels, and many are designed specifically for military life. These include:

Military & Veteran Crisis Line: This is a 24/7 crisis hotline for military youth. It’s free and confidential. Call or text 988, then press 1.
Military OneSource: Offers free counseling and support for teens and families. Call 800-342-9647.
TRICARE Mental Health Services: Covers therapy, screenings, and inpatient care for eligible dependents.
Your Base’s Behavioral Health Clinic: Many bases have walk-in support for military-connected teens.

Even one trusted adult, one conversation, or one link to the right kind of support can change the direction of a teen’s life. Don’t wait for a crisis to reach out.

Creating a Teen Mental Health Emergency Plan: What Parents Can Do

While suicide screening in military families is the first step to understanding whether your teen is at risk, creating an emergency plan can also be helpful. This plan can offer clarity and safety during times of crisis. The following steps cover how to create a mental health emergency plan at home.

Pick a trusted adult your teen can turn to: This person might not be you, and that’s okay. It could be a coach, teacher, chaplain, or family friend. What matters is that your teen knows who they can speak to if things get heavy. It’s good to consider your teen’s opinion on who this person is.
Write down crisis contacts: Keep these details somewhere easy to find. Include the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (press 1 for military support), the Military OneSource line, and any nearby behavioral health clinics offering confidential mental health support.
Make it clear what “a crisis” means: If your teen starts withdrawing, expresses hopelessness, or shows self-harm signs, don’t assume it will pass. Let them know what kinds of behaviors would trigger the plan, and that it’s not punishment, it’s care.
Use screening tools when in doubt: Many families hesitate to bring up suicide directly. But early suicide screening in military families can identify risks before they escalate. Even a basic check-in tool from a pediatrician or school counselor can help.
Include peer support: Research shows peer support helps prevent suicide in teens. Help your child name which friends feel safe and supportive. Encourage them to watch out for one another and speak up when something feels off.
Keep the plan visible: Some families post emergency plans on the fridge or save them in a shared note. What matters most is that everyone knows where it is, and that your teen helped create it.

Reach Out to Mission Prep for Confidential Mental Health Support

Between relocations and long deployments, signs of emotional issues can slip by unnoticed. This is where professional therapy and support groups can help manage a mental health crisis in military youth.

At Mission Prep, we offer private, teen suicide prevention resources and compassionate mental health support designed for teens growing up in military life. We’re here to help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface and what you can do to prevent a crisis. If you’re worried about your teen or if you want to set preventative measures in place, contact the team at Mission Prep today.

References

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