Veteran suicide rates are significantly higher than those of the general population.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the suicide rate for veterans
is 1.5 times higher than for non-veteran adults. Among veterans aged 18-34, the
suicide rate is especially alarming, with an estimated 45.9 per 100,000 individuals,
compared to 27.7 per 100,000 in the civilian population of the same age group.
When broken down by gender, male veterans have a higher suicide rate than their
female counterparts, but female veterans are more likely to commit suicide than
women in the general population. The suicide rate among female veterans is 2.2
times higher than for non-veteran women, reflecting the unique pressures faced by
women in the military.
Veterans who served in different conflicts also show varying suicide rates. Those
who served in recent conflicts, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, face a higher risk, in
part due to the intensity of these wars and the repeated deployments. Veterans of
the Vietnam War also show high suicide rates, often linked to delayed onset PTSD,
which may not manifest until decades after service.
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