Veteran Suicide and PTSD
At least four times as many active duty personnel and war veterans of post-9/11 conflicts have died of suicide than in combat. Researchers at the VA have found that 17 Veterans a day lose their life to suicide with suicide being the second leading cause of death among Veterans under the age of 45. Recently, an independent study discerned that number may be up to 24 suicides a day. The same independent study has found that many other Veterans deaths are due to self-injurious deaths (e.g. accidental overdoses), an important finding as more than 2 out of 10 Veterans with PTSD also has Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and almost 1 out of every 3 Veterans seeking treatment for SUD also has PTSD.
Over 660,000 Veterans within the VA care network are currently known to suffer from PTSD, a condition that is commonly under-diagnosed and likely affects many more. There is evidence that childhood abuse and sexual trauma may increase a person's suicide risk. Studies have also found that combat trauma can be related to suicide. Among Veterans who experienced combat trauma, the highest relative suicide risk is observed in those who were wounded multiple times and/or hospitalized for a wound (8) A history of military sexual trauma (MST) also increases the risk for suicide and intentional self-harm.
Healing Breakthrough is committed to preventing veteran suicide by making MDMA-Assisted Therapy available to all Veterans with PTSD who may benefit. If you or anyone you know thoughts of suicide or are otherwise in crisis, please reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line.
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net
If you are not currently in crisis, but would like to learn more about currently available PTSD treatment from Veterans who have experienced it, please visit
About Face https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/aboutface/
Make the Connection https://www.maketheconnection.net
If you are interested in finding VA treatment programs for either PTSD or Substance Use disorder, please visit:
The VA PTSD treatment locator https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/ptsd.asp
VA Substance Use Disorder treatment locator: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/sud.asp
References
Watson Institute, Brown University, Costs of War Project, 2021.
Department of Veterans Affairs: National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. 2022.
America’s Warrior Partnership: Operation Deep Dive Summary of Interim Report. 2022.
Raines AM, Houtsma C, Boffa JW, Constans JI. A Response to Operation Deep Dive's Interim Report on Veteran Suicide Rates. Mil Med. 2023 May 16;188(5-6):141-142.
VA National Center for PTSD
Afifi, T.O., Enns, M.W., Cox, B.J., Asmundson, G.J.G., Stein, M.B., & Sareen, J. (2008). Population attributable fractions of psychiatric disorders and suicide ideation and attempts associated with adverse childhood experiences. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 946-952. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.120253
Knox, K.L. (2008). Epidemiology of the relationship between traumatic experience and suicidal behaviors. PTSD Research Quarterly, 19(4).
Bullman, T. A., & Kang, H. K. (1995). A study of suicide among Vietnam Veterans. Federal Practitioner, 12(3), 9-13.
Kimerling, R., Gima, K., Smith, M. W., Street, A., & Frayne, S. (2007). The Veterans Health Administration and military sexual trauma. American Journal of Public Health, 97, 2160-216
