VA releases annual Veteran suicide prevention report, analyzing 2001-2022 data

On December 19, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, the most comprehensive national report on Veteran suicide, analyzing Veteran suicide from 2001-2022, the most recent years for which we have data.

Among the findings, the report shows that there were 6,407 suicides among Veterans in 2022, lower than 12 of 14 previous years, but three more than in 2021, which had a reported rate of suicide among veterans in 2021 was at 33.9 percent, a 1.3 percent increase from the numbers in 2020. The percentages stem from a total of 6,392 reported suicides amongst the veterans population, with 6,042 of those being men.

Additional key report findings include decreases in suicide rates for:

-Women Veterans: From 2021 to 2022, age-adjusted suicide rates for female Veterans decreased by 24.1%, while for female non-Veteran U.S. adults, suicide rates increased by 5.2%. For male Veterans, age-adjusted suicide rates increased by 1.6%, while for male non-Veteran U.S. adults, rates increased by 1.8%.

-Homeless Veterans: Veterans with a documented history of homelessness in their VA medical records saw a 19.1% reduction in suicide from 2021 to 2022.

-Transitioning service members: For those who separated from the military in 2021, the suicide rate over the next 12 months was 46.2 per 100,000. This was lower than for those who separated in 2020 and down from a high of 51.0 per 100,000 for those who separated in 2019.

-Veterans with mental health conditions (long-term trend): From 2001 to 2022, suicide rates fell for Veterans receiving VHA care with diagnoses of anxiety (36.1%), depression (34.5%), post-traumatic stress disorder (31.6%), alcohol use disorder (13.7%).

-Younger Veterans: The suicide rate for Veterans aged 18-34 years decreased by 3.8% from 2021 to 2022. The same report last year showed a slight spike between 2020 and 2021 in suicides among veterans under 45 years old. Most concerning, though, was statistics for the youngest group of veterans. Within the report’s key findings, the VA’s data showed the 2021 reported suicide rate was highest among veterans between 18 and 34 years old, followed by those between 35 and 54.

“Every Veteran suicide is a tragedy,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. “There is nothing more important to VA than ending Veteran suicide — and that means providing Veterans with the care they need, wherever they need it, whenever they need it. We will learn from this report to better serve Veterans and save lives.”

The report also provides a detailed overview of actions VA is taking to prevent suicide, and a detailed analysis of Veteran subpopulations. The report is based on verified data from the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Defense, and it meets the quality standards of a peer-reviewed publication. To ensure full transparency, VA releases yearly reports detailing how we come to the conclusions in the Annual Suicide Prevention Report.

Ending Veteran suicide is VA’s top clinical priority, a critical aspect of President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the nation, and the White House strategy for reducing military and Veteran suicide.

To combat veteran suicide, Senate introduced a bill in March 2023. S. 928, the Not Just a Number Act, would require VA to examine veterans’ benefits usage in their annual suicide prevention report, as well as analyze which VA benefits have the greatest impact on preventing suicide. It also would require VA to issue recommendations for an expansion of those benefits

Since 2022 began, the VA has worked aggressively to expand support for Veterans in crisis, including offering no-cost health care to Veterans in suicidal crisis at VA or non-VA facilities; launching the 988 (then press 1) to help Veterans connect more quickly with caring, qualified responders through the Veterans Crisis Line; expanding firearm suicide prevention efforts; and encouraging Veterans to reach out for help through a national Veteran suicide prevention awareness campaign. Moving forward, VA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration will continue to work urgently to end Veteran suicide through a public health approach that combines both community-based and clinically based strategies to save lives.

If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7, confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255. For more information about the Veterans Crisis Line, visit www.VeteransCrisisLine.net.