2017 VA Veteran Suicide Statistics

New – 2017 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Report – Veteran Suicide Statistics

20 Veterans a day commit suicide.  Vet to Vet Tennessee’s suicide prevention plan is working to reduce these numbers.

In 2012, the VA’s study on veterans’ suicide concluded that 22 veterans a day take their own lives.  Now the VA’s September 15, 2017 report show the number reduced to 20 veterans a day thanks to organizations like V2VT.

That’s still one veteran suicide too many and 7,300 veterans annually from all eras of war including WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.  That’s more suicides annually than the total American deaths during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) since the wars began.  This is a shocking number that many find hard to believe.

Veterans are committing suicide in these high numbers attributed to triggering points:

• Depression
• Survivor’s guilt
• An altered world view due to post-traumatic stress
• Self-blame for mission failure
• Impaired thinking caused by alcohol and/or substance abuse
• Traumatic brain injury

But what can be done to help reduce these numbers?

Stop Veterans Suicide

V2VT has a plan that’s already in action!  We have veteran specific programs that are geared towards reducing post- traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and civilian readjustment.  We have a unique Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention program, including trained peer mentors, that will support veterans and their families.

With your help we can do more!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like to become a suicide prevention gatekeeper (mentor) click here.