CBP Workers' Suicides Spike in 2024

At least seven employees of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have taken their own lives in 2024, closely mirroring the eight suicides recorded in 2023, according to Dr. Kent Corso, the agency's former suicidologist. This troubling trend follows a peak in 2022, when 15 CBP employees died by suicide. With a workforce of approximately 60,000, including 19,000 Border Patrol agents, the agency faces significant mental health challenges, particularly among first responders who encounter traumatic events more frequently than the general population. Border Patrol agents have reported a decline in morale and mental health, attributing their struggles to a high operational tempo and a perceived lack of support from leadership. One agent noted the stark increase in the discovery of deceased individuals, stating, “We find more dead bodies in one night than we used to find in a whole year.” This sentiment reflects a broader concern among agents about the impact of external perceptions and political narratives on their sense of purpose and value within the agency. The emotional toll of the job extends beyond the agents themselves, affecting their families as well. The wife of a Border Patrol agent described the draining effect of the job-related stress on their home life, highlighting the complexities of discussing the job's challenges without attributing blame solely to the profession itself. Dr. Corso emphasized the importance of ongoing efforts to address mental health issues within CBP, advocating for continued dialogue and support systems to combat the stigma surrounding these challenges. He cautioned against complacency, acknowledging that while progress has been made, the goal of zero suicides remains elusive.