What is the holdup with DOD Suicide Event Report?

Every year since 2009 the DOD Suicide Event Report has reported a detailed study of the suicides and attempted suicides, usually by April, but this year, they have not released the data yet.

If the warning issued to Congress is any indication, the numbers are likely to show an increase. DOD expects to increase 2012 suicide death reports

Jacqueline Garrick, acting director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office, told the House Armed Services Committee’s military personnel subcommittee the service member suicide rate had increased from 10.3 to 18.3 per 100,000.

DOD officials saw leveling in suicide rates for 2010 and 2011, Garrick told the House panel, but they expect an increase in the suicide rate for 2012 upon the completion of investigations and final determinations of manner of death.

As bad as that warning was, the truth is, a large part of the "civilian" suicides are in fact veterans. When you consider how many of these deaths can be connected to military service, add in the number of VA claims and calls to Suicide Prevention Hotline, none of this will be good news. The DOD already released the numbers for the yearly total of 2012 in February. There doesn't seem to be any reason for the hold up two months later.