Military veterans are disproportionately affected by suicide, but targeted prevention can help turn the tide

U.S. military veterans make up about 6% of the adult population, but represent approx 20% of all suicides. That means every day approximately 18 veterans will die by suicide.

In the US the total number of suicides is has largely increased since the turn of the millennium, but veterans are disproportionately represented among this tragic trend.

Each of these losses affects not only the individual, but also their families, friends and colleagues. So it’s important to work to prevent suicide and its underlying causes, not only to protect our loved ones, but also to promote happier and safer communities.

We are a team of researchers at Arizona State University’s Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety. We administer the Arizona Violent Death Reporting System, a surveillance system sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and part of the larger national surveillance system active in all US states, Puerto Rico and Washington. We collect information about suicides through agreements with the Arizona Department of Health Services, medical examiners and law enforcement.

Assessing risk amid uncertainty

Military veterans range from 18 years old to over 100 years old, include both men and women, and represent diverse races and ethnicities. As of 2018, the largest veteran cohort were those who served during the Vietnam War, followed by those who served only in peacetime, the Gulf War, and the post-September 11 conflicts.

Identifying the true risk of veteran suicide, especially relative to the general population, is a surprisingly difficult task. In recent decades researchers And stakeholders There was debate about which numbers were most accurate: those showing veterans at increased risk or those showing the opposite. Such debates often stemmed from methodological factors.

However, mounting evidence shows that veterans need targeted suicide prevention services, and our data support this. From 2015 to 2022, age-adjusted suicide rates among male veterans in Arizona exceeded those of non-veterans by a factor of 1.49 to 1.88. In other words, while veterans in Arizona made up only 8.4% of the population in 2022, they accounted for 20.3% of the state’s suicides, meaning veterans were 2.5 times more likely to die by suicide .

While these numbers come from Arizona, they also reflect the national trends that are evident increasing suicide rates among veterans.

Why are veterans at greater risk?

One reason is that, compared to non-veterans, a larger share of veterans are white, male and older – demographic categories with increased suicide rates in the general population. In Arizona, for example, about 97% of suicides among veterans between 2015 and 2022 were men, compared to 75% in the comparable non-veteran population.

Other explanations relate to veteran-specific factors. Some claim military training and combat exposure can reduce one’s anxiety of pain or death, putting suicidal veterans at greater risk of committing suicide. Military training also familiarizes one with the use of firearms, a particularly deadly method of suicide. Statistics show that veterans, including female veteransdie by suicide use of firearms more than the general population. This tendency to use firearms as a method of suicide leads to more fatal suicide attempts.

At the Arizona Violent Death Reporting System, we collect data on circumstances preceding and possibly contributing to suicide, which can help identify risk factors. While we have found that veterans tend to exhibit fewer of these types of factors overall, certain demographics do exhibit risk factors.

For example, a higher proportion of veterans aged 18 to 54 had a diagnosed mental health problem – primarily post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. In addition, more male veterans aged 65 and older had physical health problems that contributed to their suicide, compared to comparable non-veterans.

This underlines the need to encourage veterans to share their mental or physical health issues with others, preventing veterans from struggling alone. Large-scale initiatives try to tackle this problem, but we can also raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide at a local level.

Shining a light on the problem

In 1999, then Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher highlighted suicide as a serious public health crisispaving the way to tackle this monumental problem on a national scale.

Now, 25 years later, the US government continues to emphasize the increasingly dire situation. Recently, the Biden administration released this a national strategy for 2024 aimed at establishing strategic directions for improving mental health care and reducing suicide.

Historically, health care facilities operated by the Veterans Health Administration have been a central resource for veterans with mental or physical problems. This remains true: while the The overall population of veterans is decliningthe number of veterans seeking resources from the organization has increased. Meetings between veterans and the Veterans Health Administration provide opportunities for this screen for suicide risk and provide resources for those in need.

Crisis lines are a potentially effective prevention tool. For example the Veterans Crisis Line It has been shown to reduce the caller’s immediate distress and suicidality. Many callers have found the crisis line helpful, with counselors offering both effective intervention and compassionate support.

Education and policy offer another way to prevent suicide. If Firearms are a particularly deadly means of suicidea large proportion of research funding has been devoted to understanding their role in suicide. Research generally shows that limiting access to guns is associated with reduced suicide rates. As a result, both general And veteran-specific Suicide prevention efforts emphasize the importance of safely handling and storing weapons.

If you know a military veteran, look for warning signs of mental distress someone’s words, feelings, or behavior.

For example, they can be displayed expressing intense fear, excitement or despair, or a sense of hopelessness. Veterans diagnosed with depressive syndrome, PTSD, or both may be at greater risk.

For someone contemplating suicide, even the slightest hope can mean the difference between life and death.

If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of crisis, you can do so for free and confidentially 988 Lifeline for suicide and crisis is available to call, text or chat.

If you are a veteran and would like to speak to responders trained to understand your unique circumstances, call 988 and then press 1.