WASHINGTON � The number of suicides among U.S. military members and their families dipped slightly in 2022, compared with the previous year, as the Defense Department tries to build prevention and treatment programs to address what has been a steadily growing problem over the past decade, The Associated Press has learned.
While the total number of deaths decreased overall, suicides among active-duty troops went up slightly, fueled by significant spikes in the Marine Corps and the Air Force. And because the active-duty force is smaller now, the rate of suicides per 100,000 service members inched up, according to U.S. officials.

The Pentagon, seen Jan. 26, 2020, in Washington, is working on new prevention programs amid a slight dip in 2022 in the number of suicides among the U.S. military and their families, compared with the previous year.
US Navy deploys more chaplains for suicide prevention

Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett makes his way up to the next deck using a ladder well inside the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023. The steep stairs within the ship are the only way to move between decks. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

The Wasp-class USS Bataan is docked at Norfolk Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The amphibious assault ship carries four chaplains and a civilian counselor on board during deployment. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett, right, makes his way through the tight corridors within the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. The corridors on Navy ships are about 3 feet wide which made life on the ship more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Cmdr. Hunter Washburn stands on the bridge of the USS Gravely on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 while docked at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. Washburn says that chaplains need to be "eyeball to eyeball (with sailors), to check in and see how they're doing." (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Sailors of the USS Bataan make their way through one of the ship's four mess decks on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. The four mess decks are separated by rank: one for lower enlisted, petty officers, officers, and command staff. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Gravely (DDG-107) is docked at its home port Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The U.S. Navy is planning to make chaplains regular members of the crew on ships with more than 300 sailors, instead of only the largest carriers as in the past. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

A 20mm Phalanx CIWS weapons defense cannon is mounted on the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Gravely on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The system is capable of firing thousands of rounds per minute to thwart incoming aircraft, missiles and small boats. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

A sign hangs over a gate at the Trails of Purpose horse farm in Chesapeake, Va. on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The nonprofit mental health counseling organization serves more than 100 service members and veterans each week." (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Kayla Arestivo, co-founder and president of the Trails of Purpose nonprofit organization, speaks about the mental health issues services members are facing in the U.S. Navy and the other branches of the military at the Trails of Purpose farm in Chesapeake, Va. on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Arestivo, a licensed counselor, says that younger recruits have a hard time relinquishing their smart devices. "Eighteen to 21-year-olds don't know life without smartphones." (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Robert Decker, father of sailor Kody Lee Decker, speaks in his home in Chesapeake, Va., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, about his son's October 2022 suicide. Robert believes Kody might still be alive if he had been given better access to mental health instead of being put on limited duty, deprived of his sense of purpose and made to “muster in and go sit in a damn car all day.� (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Robert Decker shows his tattoos to honor the U.S. Navy service of both of his sons, Kyle and Kody, at his home in Norfolk, Va., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Decker's youngest son, Kody, committed suicide in October 2022 while stationed at Norfolk Naval Station. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Robert Decker displays photographs to honor the U.S. Navy service of both of his sons, Kyle and Kody, at his home in Norfolk, Va., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Decker's youngest son, Kody, committed suicide in October 2022 while stationed at Norfolk Naval Station. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Capt. David Thames, Surface Fleet Atlantic (SURFLANT) Force chaplain of the U.S. Navy, speaks about the Navy's plan to assign additional chaplains permanently to Navy support surface ships at his office at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. on Monday, March 13, 2023. The very real prospect of killing or being killed in combat provokes “God-sized questions,� in Thames� words, who joined the Navy after 9/11 and served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Gravely (DDG-107) navigate through the ship's mess deck on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 while home ported at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. The U.S. Navy is planning to make chaplains regular members of the crew on ships with more than 300 sailors, instead of only the largest carriers as in the past. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Madison Carter, the head chaplain for Destroyer Squadron 28, home ported at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. speaks about his role as a Navy chaplain on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Carter, a Baptist pastor, says the vast majority of his talks with sailors involve not faith but life struggles that can make them feel unfulfilled and lose focus. “How do I make sure that you have mind, body and soul all locked in?� is the question that drives his mission. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) Benjamin Dumas, left, alongside Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Rice speak about the "lay leader" aboard the USS Gravely on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. Dumas is a prospective lay leader saying that he wants to serve his shipmates aboard the Gravely. “I’ve seen a lot of brokenness,� he says. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Sailors gather for a work party on board the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. Sailor work schedules can easily can be 12 hours or longer on a given day. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Navy Chaplain Lt. Greg Johnson, speak about the his role aboard the USS Bataan on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Johnson, who joined the Bataan in December, says “A lot of people have resiliency. They just don’t know how to tap into it.� Navy chaplains are required to minister to all sailors no matter their religious affiliation and provide complete confidentiality whatever the sailor speaks on. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett performs the sacrament of the Eucharist in the chapel of the USS Bataan on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. Before joining the U.S. Navy, Chaplain Garrett was a priest in Washington DC. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)