{"id":62872,"date":"2020-11-12T16:25:40","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T16:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/11\/12\/suicide-rate-among-veterans-up-again-slightly-despite-focus-on-prevention-efforts\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T12:13:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:13:21","slug":"suicide-rate-among-veterans-up-again-slightly-despite-focus-on-prevention-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2020\/11\/12\/suicide-rate-among-veterans-up-again-slightly-despite-focus-on-prevention-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"Suicide rate among veterans up again slightly, despite focus on prevention efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rate of suicide among veterans ticked upwards in recent years despite increased public attention and funding on the problem, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.va.gov\/docs\/data-sheets\/2020\/2020-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-11-2020-508.pdf\" target=_blank>new report<\/a> released by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/11\/10\/amid-pandemic-veterans-affairs-secretary-sees-reason-for-both-optimism-and-worry\/\" target=_blank>Department of Veterans Affairs officials <\/a>on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the latest data still lags two years behind present conditions and does not include any figures from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which mental health experts have warned may be causing even larger increases in the rates of mental distress and self harm among veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The suicide report \u2014 which is typically released in early October, but was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/10\/20\/delay-in-release-of-annual-veterans-suicide-report-raises-concerns\/\" target=_blank>delayed more than a month this year<\/a> \u2014 shows the rate of suicide among veterans at 17.6 a day in 2018. That\u2019s a slight increase from 2017, when the number was 17.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Numerous public figures and public awareness campaigns in recent years have quoted the figure of \u201c20 a day\u201d in reference to veterans suicide, but VA officials last year clarified that estimate also includes active-duty troops, guardsmen and reservists.<\/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\/11\/10\/amid-pandemic-veterans-affairs-secretary-sees-reason-for-both-optimism-and-worry\/\" 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\/AP20189717783094.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\">Amid pandemic, Veterans Affairs secretary sees reason for both optimism and worry<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">In an interview with Military Times, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie defended the department&#039;s response to coronavirus thus far as better than many had predicted.<\/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\">From 2005 to 2018, the overall suicide rate has remained largely unchanged, between 17 and 18 veterans a day. That\u2019s in spite of numerous public awareness campaigns, VA outreach programs and new department training mandates enacted over the last two presidential administrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After making adjustments for sex and age, veterans suicide was roughly 27.5 per 100,000 individuals in 2018, up from 25.8 per 100,000 in 2016. By comparison, among all U.S. adults, the suicide rate per 100,000 was 18.3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In raw numbers, the newly released figures mean that the number of veterans who died by suicide in 2018 was 6,435, up less than half a percent as the total veterans population fell by about 1.5 percent. By comparison, as of Thursday morning, there have been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/casualty.pdf\" target=_blank>7,032 troop deaths in conflict zones since 9\/11<\/a> according to Defense Department statistics,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans suicides made up about 14 percent of total suicides in America in 2018. VA officials have emphasized in recent years that mental health challenges and suicidal thoughts are not a problem specific to the veterans community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFindings documented in this report highlight the continuing and increasing problem of suicide among U.S. adults and among veterans, and the need for ongoing efforts to improve methods of suicide risk mitigation,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a statement, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said that despite the lack of overall progress in suicide prevention among veterans, the report does show some areas of improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe data shows the rate of suicide among veterans who recently used VA health services has decreased, an encouraging sign as the department continues its work and shares what we learn with those who care for and about veterans,\u201d he said.<\/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\/10\/18\/plans-for-vets-suicide-prevention-training-new-three-digit-emergency-mental-health-crisis-line-signed-into-law\/\" 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\/6340107.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\">Plans for vets suicide prevention training, new three-digit emergency mental health crisis line signed into law<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">President Donald Trump finalized the measures on Saturday evening.<\/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\">The rate of suicide among veterans who recently received some type of VA care decreased was down 2.4 percent from 2017 to 2018. For veterans with no connection to VA care, it increased 2.5 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis report offers data points that suicide is indeed preventable through clinically based and community-based prevention efforts and interventions, as well as through research and surveillance within and beyond the VA,\u201d the report authors wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYet this report also elucidates that while suicide is preventable, suicide and suicide prevention are extremely complex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this week, Senate lawmakers passed a package of nine VA-themed bills aimed at bettering the department\u2019s suicide prevention efforts, including new training for department police and educations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legislation \u2014 expected to be signed into law later this week \u2014 was part of a congressional compromise earlier this year allowing VA to create a new grant program for community advocates to help with VA outreach efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, that deal dropped House Democrats&#8217; plans to include new incentives on safe storage of firearms among veterans. White House officials had included the item in its new suicide prevention task force priorities at the start of the summer, but several Republican lawmakers objected to the idea.<\/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\">The new VA suicide report shows that firearms were involved in more than 68 percent of veterans suicides in 2018. Among the rest of the American population, the figure was about 48 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this week, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie dismissed concerns from members of Congress that the suicide report had been delayed for more than a month until after Election Day because of concerns the lack of progress on the issue could hurt President Donald Trump\u2019s campaign. Trump made VA reforms a key point in his campaign trail speeches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think we\u2019re in a much better place than we were just a few months ago,\u201d Wilkie said of the suicide figures. \u201cWhat I think this report will show is that once you get into VA care, the chances of death by suicide go down. It\u2019s finding those veterans and getting them in that is the key. And I think we\u2019ve finally turned the corner on that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.va.gov\/docs\/data-sheets\/2020\/2020-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-11-2020-508.pdf\" target=_blank>The full report <\/a>is available on the department\u2019s web site.<\/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>Nearly 18 veterans a day die by suicide, according to the latest data.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":99185,"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":19,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,22,23,89,12,26,62,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3222],"class_list":["post-62872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-disaster","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-veterans"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"AGRPW54IDJBQXLBZK3TGH7VD3I","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/11\/12\/suicide-rate-among-veterans-up-again-slightly-despite-focus-on-prevention-efforts\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Suicide rate among veterans up again slightly, despite focus on prevention efforts - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nearly 18 veterans a day die by suicide, according to the latest data.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Suicide rate among veterans up again slightly, despite focus on prevention efforts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nearly 18 veterans a day die by suicide, according to the latest data.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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