The Pentagon announced eight installations where a new Suicide Prevention Independent Review Committee will begin studying an alarmingly growing issue within the military.

“Clearly we have more work to do,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote in a Tuesday memo announcing the committee.

The review committee will operate much like the recent committee on sexual assault, including site visits, focus groups, interviews and anonymous surveys.

The review will begin at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Naval Air Station North Island, California; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska; the North Carolina National Guard; and Camp Humphreys in South Korea.

“As I have said many times, mental health is health—period,” Austin wrote. “I know that senior leaders throughout the department share my sense of commitment to this notion and to making sure we do everything possible to heal all wounds, those you can see and those you can’t. We owe it to our people, their families, and to honor the memory of those we have lost.”

Congress mandated the committee in the fiscal year 2022 defense authorization bill.

The committee will provide Austin a preliminary report in December and a final report next year.

Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karla Parra