Veteran Suicide: Understanding the Risks and Preventing Tragedies
Approximately 18 veterans die by suicide daily, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as other mental and physical injuries, are alarmingly common among America’s veterans, putting them at a higher risk for suicide. But with family awareness, professional care, and timely response, many veterans in crisis can survive and recover.
Suicide Takes More Veterans Than Combat
The veteran suicide rate has climbed from 23.3 per 100,000 in 2001 to 34.7 per 100,000 in 2022: 57.3% higher than the rate among non-veteran U.S. adults. Suicide was the 12th-leading cause of death for veterans overall in 2022, and the second-leading cause for veterans under 45.
Research by Thomas Suitt for Brown University's Costs of War Project estimated that 30,177 active-duty personnel and veterans of post-9/11 wars have died by suicide, significantly exceeding the 7,057 service members who lost their lives in combat operations.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Unadjusted suicide rates per 100,000 veterans varied by race in 2022: White 34.2, Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 30.2, American Indian/Alaska Native 29.8, and Black or African American 14.2. When calculated by relative percentages, however, racial minority groups face disproportionately elevated risks.
Asian American and Pacific Islander service members and veterans experienced suicide risk 350% higher than the national average, and the per-capita rate for Black and Hispanic veterans was twice the national average in 2021.
Male vs. Female Veterans
Female veteran suicide deaths declined from 2021 to 2022, with 271 recorded deaths (80 fewer than in 2021) compared to 6,136 among male veterans (83 more than in 2021). Female veterans were more likely to die by poisoning, while male veterans more commonly used firearms or suffocation. The firearm suicide rate among female veterans was 144.4% higher than among female non-veteran adults.
Female veterans who screened positive for military sexual trauma showed a suicide rate 75% higher than those without such trauma.
The Invisible Wounds
Post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and traumatic brain injury are sometimes called the "invisible wounds of war" because they lack visible physical markers yet significantly impact mental health.
Research has found PTSD to be substantially linked with suicidal thinking and attempts, and veterans with multiple brain injuries are twice as likely to consider suicide compared with those who have experienced one or no brain injuries.
Of the 5.8 million veterans who served in 2024, approximately 14% of men and 24% of women received PTSD diagnoses. Increased use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) since 9/11 has contributed to higher TBI rates.
TBIs frequently occur alongside other physical and mental injuries in what is known as polytrauma. In a VA study of 16,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the majority of those with a TBI diagnosis also had a mental health disorder, with approximately half having both PTSD and chronic pain. The combination of these three conditions has been associated with elevated suicide rates.
How Can You Support a Veteran with PTSD?
Educate yourself. Learn about PTSD through articles, videos, and conversations with others in similar situations, so that you can recognize trauma responses.
Connect with other veterans. Support group participation helps reduce isolation through shared experiences. Peer contact often reaches veterans who will not see specialists alone.
Encourage treatment. The VA offers therapy and medication programs proven effective for PTSD recovery. Treatment is what makes the biggest difference.
Address suicidal thoughts immediately. Contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 (Press 1) or text 838255 for 24/7 confidential support.
As of 2023, veterans experiencing acute suicidal crisis can access emergency care at any VA or non-VA facility at no cost, including up to 30 days of inpatient or crisis residential care and 90 days of outpatient services.Practice patience and understanding. Recognize that certain behaviors stem from trauma, not personal feelings toward you. Responding with anger or hurt reinforces the isolation the veteran is already experiencing.
Maintain a supportive environment. Create safe spaces and avoid triggering situations when possible. A predictable home rhythm gives the veteran's nervous system fewer acute stressors to manage.
Understand triggers. Learn what sounds, smells, or situations may activate PTSD responses. Plan around known triggers rather than testing them.
Encourage healthy lifestyle choices. Support exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate sleep. These are not cures, but their absence worsens PTSD symptoms.
Practice active listening. Offer full attention without judgment. Many people with PTSD just need to be heard.
Seek your own support. Family members need therapy or support groups too. If you’re depleted and don’t take care of your own well-being, you won’t be able to keep helping someone else.
Research shows that 53 out of 100 veterans will achieve remission of PTSD symptoms when they undergo proper treatment. Recognition and encouragement from a loved one is often what gets the veteran into care in the first place.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, Text LIFE to 741741. Trained therapists are available 24/7 to assist. You are not alone!