Even though the general Veteran population continues to decrease in size, the number of suicide deaths within this population has continued to rise throughout the past decades, making the need for Veteran mental health services a vital issue to address. The 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report found that the average number of Veteran suicides per day rose 4.5%, from 16.4 in 2001 to 17.2 in 2019. 

 

Mental health conditions, inpatient mental health care, prior suicide attempts, prior calls to the Veterans Crisis Line, and prior mental health treatment can all increase the likelihood of suicide. 

 

Veterans engaging in appropriate services has proved to be effective in reducing suicide rates. The same 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report found that among the average of 17.2 Veteran suicides per day, an estimated 6.8 suicides per day were among those with Veteran Health Administration (VHA) encounters in 2018 or 2019, whereas 10.4 per day were among Veterans with no VHA encounters.