Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2019, 12 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million made a plan, and 1.4 million attempted suicide. Suicide was responsible for more than 47,500 deaths in 2019.
The financial toll of suicide on society is also costly. Suicides and suicide attempts cost the nation over $70 billion per year in lifetime medical and work-loss costs alone.
While serving in the Persian Gulf during the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1980, and after receiving a 'bad' letter from home, Marine Pfc. Bradley L. Johnson told the sentry guarding the weapons armory the Staff Sargeant wanted to see him, relieved the sentry of his weapon, and killed himself with it in front of us as we worked topside.
Veterans Justice Project assists incarcerated and at-risk veterans with access to services and resources while advocating for the most vulnerable veterans struggling with mental health, drug/alcohol abuse, homelessness, and suicide.
This Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report documents decreases in Veteran suicide deaths and suicide rates during the two most recent years for which mortality data is available, 2019 and 2020. Some notable conclusions:
But, Hope serves as a key and necessary anchor to strengthen Veterans amidst numerous life circumstances. In a similar manner, hope must imbue the overall suicide prevention mission. The following hopeful data points from this year’s report serve as anchors:
Veterans Affairs 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Although they are less likely to have multiple previous offenses than those of non-veterans:
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Protective factors, or those influences that buffer against the risk for suicide, can also be found across the different levels of the social ecological model. Protective factors identified in the literature include: effective coping and problem-solving skills, moral objections to suicide, strong and supportive relationships with partners, friends, and family; connectedness to school, community, and other social institutions; availability of quality and ongoing physical and mental health care, and reduced access to lethal means. These protective factors can either counter a specific risk factor or buffer against a number of risks associated with suicide.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/suicideTechnicalPackage.pdf
"I assure you that, when the numbers do finally drop, it will merely be because those who were pushed the farthest are all already dead"
Daniel Somers
Suicide Letter
June 10, 2013
While there are numerous reasons for a veteran to resort to suicide, the combination of mental illness including PTSD and depression, drugs and/or alcohol, and an unsympathetic justice system, the veteran can easily take the path of least resistance.
There can be any number of reasons, or ‘stressors’ responsible for onset of disorders such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety which can lay dormant for many years to seemingly wait for an opportunity to surface. Often times, no or little notice is given when an attack might occur and can strike at the most unfortunate time such as a possible criminal occurrence.
Knowing the warning signs and having the conversation about thoughts and planning around a veteran suicide can help identify specific behaviors when a veteran may be heading down the 'rabbit hole' of suicide. A conversation to tear down the stigma can be as simple as asking, "How are you mentally?"