The Department of Veterans Affairs has put into place an intensive, multi-pronged effort to expand its suicide prevention programs and data systems to increase understanding and prevention of suicide among Veterans. The current update identifies that rates of suicide among those who use VHA services have not increased and that outcomes among those at risk for suicide who get care in VA have improved.

For more on the updated report and historical resources:
January 2014 VA Suicide Update
2012 Suicide Data Report

Feb 2013 Release: VA Issues New Report on Suicide Data

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9 Comments

  1. Andy Smith January 28, 2014 at 11:23

    What is Government going to do to stop the suicide among the Veterans?
    Regards, 马来西亚风水师

  2. lambda5555m January 24, 2014 at 15:56

    What the VA doesn’t realize is that delaying or denying benefits that should have been awarded can lead to homelessness and suicides. This is one of the big things that leads Veterans to give up and say screw it. They have to fight for everything and sometimes they just give up. Additionally, getting medications that are needed for mental health and other serious medical problems contributes to this as well. When you can’t get the medications you have been on for years because of some reason or another, then when you stop taking them and withdrawal, it can lead to serious and sometimes fatal consequences. You can’t just stop giving people their depression medication or refills. It has been happening to me time after time and I just give up and they keep changing my appointments and delaying them further and further and when I ask for my meds to be refilled, they won’t do it without me seeing the doctor, but if they keep pushing the date back to see the doctor, then what recourse do I have? This is part and parcel to what is leading to homelessness and suicide. I cannot believe that people who put their lives in harms way for this Country treats its Veterans and Disabled Veterans so shabbily. I can’t understand why no one takes this issue on and makes the VA work for Veterans. I can honestly say,with all the disabilities and serious medical problems/conditions/diseases, that if I had it to do all over again, I damn sure would not have joined the Army. Should have gone Air Force like my roommate and best friend in college. I would have been in Desert Storm or Afghanistan and wouldn’t have had to take a disability retirement and all the problems associated with it. When is the VA going to get fixed? When? Hopefully soon, but don’t hold your breath!!! Lots more will become homeless and commit suicide before they get their act together. Shameful, just shameful.

  3. Autoankauf Hamburg January 22, 2014 at 08:48

    NICE!!! Great story, thumbs up!!!

  4. Henrry January 14, 2014 at 00:45

    The Veterans who have to sacrifice many things, such as the most important are the youth, the health etc. They deserve to get all high quality and safe healthcare, benefits and best services. They include not only the good works, affordable housing, but also contain a meaningful and safe life. They need to receive the specially psychological treatment. It is very important because all veterans had to scenes of terrible bloodshed.

  5. Marianne January 13, 2014 at 17:53

    Paul/Matthew – Please visit http://www.vetselfcheck.org to chat with a Veterans Counselor. The Veterans Chat is confidential and anonymous. You do not need to give your actual name. Please reach out again. 1.800.273.TALK (8255) Press 1.

  6. Matthew January 13, 2014 at 17:07

    I am a OIF/OEF Veteran and I am currently getting raw shafted by the system. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and a host of other illness, but the VA will not recognize this even thought they heavily medicated me for almost 4 years. My lawyer seems to be just standing still too, seeing how she gets 20% of my backpay it only makes sense she is going to drag this out forever and forever to get the most money from the fee. what are we supposed to do if no kill ourselves off? My wife is killing herself working 7 days a week and we still cant make ends meet. this is the most pathetic bullshit ever.

    • linda mac January 31, 2014 at 13:24

      I know what you are saying.. I have had friends who suffered for years, before they got recognized for treatment of ptsd .
      Let people get blown to pieces in front of them, and see how they feel about helping vets, then.
      VETS.. must keep together, vets- help each other hang in there.
      IT IS A REAL THREAT..TO OUR SURVIVAL…I KNOW.
      Me and my fiancée are going through the same thing.
      TRY and get a home loan…GOOD LUCK!
      WE DO NOT QUALIFY!…HUD- DOES WHAT?
      HELPS US VETS?
      WE, have to team together and help each other…VETS FOR VETS!

  7. Paul Lazar January 10, 2014 at 21:23

    This mental help is a bunch of crap. I take.
    5 medicinesp a day for depression but I only see
    My DR for mental health twice a year for 30
    minutes for my meds. There is no help. I called
    the help hotline and what did I get Nothing!!!
    You need to tell the truth that there is no Help. For
    older vets we get the back of the line! Some one
    needs to step up tell the truth and really do something
    for once. We have always been forgotten. We are
    wounded warriors TOO! Yet we do not get treated
    Like we are and that is the truth. Are the new veterans
    Better than us or any different on our service to our
    Country? I am a double amputee mid thigh yet it took
    me 13 months to get a new wheelchair and it was
    made 320 miles from me. I have had an appeal going
    since 2008 and it is going to be at least 2 to 3 more years
    to have a hearing yet to send out emails how good you
    are doing with claims. You drag out claims out so we will
    give up and quit. Is this fair???? No one will care about
    this email as no one cares. Very sad, Paul Lazar

  8. Jeremy D Chamberlain January 10, 2014 at 21:08

    when I was still active duty an nco told me the va healthcare system was a nightmare .. trust me it is no nightmare especially if you have no other options.

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