Suicide and Veterans
It’s Memorial Day and I’ve been reading about suicide rates in the U.S. veteran population. None of the sources I’ve read agree on the statistics … anywhere from 19 to 25% of completed suicides are vets … but all agree that veteran status places one at an increased risk of suicide.
The most comprehensive information I could find was on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General web page. If you take the reports link, you will find a variety of reports, including a 5/10/2007 report called Healthcare Inspection, Implementing VHA’s Mental Health Strategic Plan Initiatives for Suicide Prevention [06-03706-126]. This lengthy report describes current mental health and suicide prevention efforts within the VA. It explores veteran suicides within the larger context of the problem of suicide in the U.S. You’ll find some interesting facts, figures, charts, etc in the report.
