{"id":53050,"date":"2021-09-08T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/09\/08\/veteran-suicides-decreased-7-percent-in-2019-to-lowest-level-in-12-years\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:25:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:25:36","slug":"veteran-suicides-decreased-7-percent-in-2019-to-lowest-level-in-12-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2021\/09\/08\/veteran-suicides-decreased-7-percent-in-2019-to-lowest-level-in-12-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Veteran suicides decreased 7 percent in 2019 to lowest level in 12 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/11\/12\/suicide-rate-among-veterans-up-again-slightly-despite-focus-on-prevention-efforts\/\" target=\"_blank\">Veteran suicides<\/a> fell to their lowest level in 12 years in 2019, down more than one death a day from the previous year\u2019s levels, according to new data released by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2021\/08\/31\/more-vets-reaching-out-for-crisis-line-help-amid-afghanistan-collapse\/\" target=\"_blank\">Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite that, the rate of suicides among veterans remains almost double the rest of the American public, accounting for more than 32,000 deaths from 2015 to 2019, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.va.gov\/suicide_prevention\/data.asp\" target=\"_blank\">the latest data available<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans Affairs officials called the news a notable improvement, but acknowledged the work still ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSuicide prevention remains a top priority for VA, with the most significant amount of resources ever appropriated and apportioned to VA suicide prevention,\u201d VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement. \u201cSuicide is preventable, and everyone has a role to play in saving lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/11\/12\/suicide-rate-among-veterans-up-again-slightly-despite-focus-on-prevention-efforts\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/VASuicide2020.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Suicide rate among veterans up again slightly, despite focus on prevention efforts<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Nearly 18 veterans a day die by suicide, according to the latest data.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal data on suicide rates have lagged two years behind current conditions, and the latest report from VA does not include any records from the pandemic, which mental health experts warned could exacerbate mental health conditions and lead to suicidal thoughts among individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA officials said that to date they have not observed increases in \u201cdocumented suicide-related indicators\u201d during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in March 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 6,261 veteran deaths by suicide in 2019 are 399 fewer than 2018 and equate to about 17 per day. That figure is well below the often-quoted \u201c22 a day\u201d statistic regarding veterans suicide, which was based on an estimate used by VA officials a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When factoring in active-duty military, reservists and other associated groups, the total is closer to 20 a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"708\" height=\"394\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/VASuicidereport2021.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/VASuicidereport2021.jpg.jpg 708w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/VASuicidereport2021.jpg.jpg?resize=300,167 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 708px) 100vw, 708px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An excerpt from the Department of Veterans Affairs annual report on veterans suicide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last time the total number of veteran suicide deaths was less than 6,200 was 2007, when it was 6,174. It peaked in 2014 at 6,587.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Department researchers noted that the decrease in veteran suicides outpaced reductions in the American public at large. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national suicide rate decreased 2.1 percent. Among veterans, it was down about 7 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think you\u2019re seeing the manifestation of core truths within suicide prevention; number one, that suicide is preventable,\u201d said Dr. Matt Miller, director of the VA Suicide Prevention Program. \u201cThere are evidence-based programs, intervention actions that can be taken within clinical settings and within community settings that can make a meaningful difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/08\/31\/more-vets-reaching-out-for-crisis-line-help-amid-afghanistan-collapse\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6807146.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">More vets reaching out for crisis line help amid Afghanistan collapse<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">VA staffers said they&#039;re encouraged by the increased outreach, and not fearful that it means a sudden increase in mental health challenges.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA officials, lawmakers and community advocates have made suicide prevention a top focus of department activities in recent years, with major boosts in mental health resources, outreach programs and community partnerships on the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drop was particularly pronounced among female veterans. Officials said they saw a nearly 15 percent drop in deaths by suicide among women vets, when adjusted for age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But suicide remains a significantly higher threat for veterans than the rest of the U.S. public. CDC data shows the rate of death by suicide among all Americans in 2019 was 16.8 per 100,000 individuals. Among veterans that year, it was 31.6 per 100,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suicide prevention officials have also seen a steady increase in the use of firearms in deaths by suicide in recent years, a worrisome trend. About 70 percent of all deaths in 2019 were as a result of firearms.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/2020\/05\/21\/suicide-risk-for-veterans-could-grow-as-coronavirus-crisis-winds-down\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6148209.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Suicide risk for veterans could grow as coronavirus crisis winds down<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Mental health experts warn that feelings of depression and anxiety will likely outlast the immediate isolation of the pandemic.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Miller said the department has already put in place new firearms safety training to address that issue, including new public service advertisements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The full report is available on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.va.gov\/suicide_prevention\/data.asp\" target=\"_blank\">department\u2019s web site.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Veterans experiencing a mental health emergency can contact the Veteran Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and select option 1 for a VA staffer. Veterans, troops or their family members can also text 838255 or visit <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/veteranscrisisline.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"><i>VeteransCrisisLine.net<\/i><\/a><i> for assistance.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About 17 veterans a day died by suicide in 2019, the latest year for which data was available.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":75440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":21,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,16,26,65,21],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3328],"class_list":["post-53050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-veterans"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"DBPQGXCG4NF25JHGC4EF3PMX2M","arc_canonical_url":"\/veterans\/2021\/09\/08\/veteran-suicides-decreased-7-percent-in-2019-to-lowest-level-in-12-years\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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