More veterans took their own lives in 2021– the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic – than in 2020.than in 2020.
The Department of Veterans Affairs' latest National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, released on Nov. 16, shows that 6,392 veterans died by suicide in 2021, which is 114 more than in 2020. The number of non-veteran suicides also increased to 40,020 deaths in 2021, which is 2,000 more than in 2020.
“There is nothing more important to VA than preventing veteran suicide —nothing,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough in a statement. “One veteran suicide will always be too many, and we at VA will use every tool to our disposal to prevent these tragedies and save veterans’ lives.”
The report noted that the pandemic led to greater financial strain, housing instability, anxiety and depression levels, and barriers to health care – all of which are known to be associated with increased risk of suicide for veterans and non-veterans alike.
“We will do everything in our power to learn from this report and use its findings to help us save lives,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal. “It will take all of us — working together — to end veteran suicide, and we will not rest until that goal becomes a reality.”
During a media roundtable on Nov. 15 in advance of the report’s release, VA’s Executive Director of Suicide Prevention in the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Dr. Matthew Miller, said there was an increase in firearm availability in 2021, which is proven to increase both the risk of suicide and the risk of dying during a suicide attempt.
The report found that firearms were used to commit suicide by 73% of male veterans and 52% of female veterans, Miller said.
"We're going to engage in a significant push across our clinics and facilities to increase firearm lethal mean safety discussion with women veterans this year and next,” he said.
VA also pointed to what it called “anchors of hope” in the report. Suicide rates fell by about 8% for male veterans aged 75 and older. Suicides also decreased by 2.2% among those veterans aged 55 to 74 who get care at VA.
Prior to 2021, veteran suicide had decreased two years in a row — from 6,718 suicides in 2018 to 6,278 in 2020.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Dial 988 then Press 1, text 838255 or online here.
