It has recently been revealed that the VA has been altering suicide stats (e.g., only reporting for active duty vets, reducing that number, etc.). CBS news collected suicide statistics from 45 states. These stats have been used by experts testifying before Congress, etc. and are considered the most reliable data available.)
CBS found that: “veterans were more than twice as likely to commit suicide in 2005 than non-vets. (Veterans committed suicide at the rate of between 18.7 to 20.8 per 100,000, compared to other Americans, who did so at the rate of 8.9 per 100,000.)”
“One age group stood out. Veterans aged 20 through 24, those who have served during the war on terror. They had the highest suicide rate among all veterans, estimated between two and four times higher than civilians the same age. (The suicide rate for non-veterans [age 20 - 24] is 8.3 per 100,000, while the rate for veterans was found to be between 22.9 and 31.9 per 100,000.)”
Many soldiers suffering from PTSD (and thus at risk for suicide) are being labeled as ineligible for insurance benefits because they are self-medicating with substances and their conditions are labeled “preexisting” (Coleman, in House Committee report, 2007).
VA Myths/FactsVeteran specific risks:
- Frequent deployments
- Deployments to hostile environments
- Exposure to extreme stress
- Physical/sexual assault while in the service (not limited to women)
- Length of deployments
- Service related injury
Some information taken from CBS News.