Suicide News
Veteran Suicides--A Hidden Epidemic
Thursday, August 25, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
Since 2001, veteran suicide has increased by one-third. Most victims are men 50 years of age or older. A Department of Veteran Affairs report stated that in 2014, 7,300 veterans killed themselves, an average of 20 per day and more than the total number of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan to date. Both presidential nominees will speak at the 2016 America Legion conference and have in the past offered their proposals on how to better offer care to veterans. Meanwhile, at least 140 veterans will have killed themselves by the end of the American Legion conference. This article includes personal testimony and suggests that VA intervention does make a difference. The author states: "Perhaps the greatest challenge of all, however, will be to transform the culture of the military so that veterans are not ashamed to ask for the help they so clearly need."
Why Female Veterans Have a Higher Rate of Suicide Than Civilian Counterparts
Saturday, August 6, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
Pre-2015, the number of female veterans who committed suicide was unknown. Now that researchers are examining this issue, they quickly became aware that "the numbers are staggering: Female vets are six times more likely to commit suicide than their civilian counterparts; while male vets are just twice as likely to commit suicide than male civilians." Additionally, a recent Department of Veterans Affairs study showed "that the rate of suicide among female veterans is several times higher than that of women in the general population." There is a high rate of Military Sexual Trauma in the same population who commit suicide as well as those who consider attempting suicide. Many women "who say they were pressed for sex" feel betrayed by the military and their country. The "Female Veterans Suicide Prevention" bill requires the VA to identify the most effective suicide prevention programs. All veterans, their families, caregivers or anyone assisting a veteran considering suicide should call the VA Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (press 1) or text 838255.
Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act Signed into Law
Tuesday, August 2, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
President Obama signed the "Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act into law on June 30, 2016. The law is intended to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs assesses their mental health and suicide programs to more effectively serve female veterans. National statistics reveal that at least 22 veterans commit suicide daily. The rate of female veteran suicides is very high.
Suicide Rate Among Veterans Has Risen Sharply Since 2001
Thursday, July 7, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
In summer 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a report regarding veteran suicide. The study examined death records of more than 55 million veterans from 1979 to 2014 from every state. Findings included: "The suicide rate for veterans age 18 to 29 was 86 deaths per 100,000 for men and 33 deaths per 100,000 for women — much higher than previous estimates, and almost twice as high as all other age groups. The civilian suicide rate is about 14 deaths per 100,000." Since 2001, veteran suicides increased by 35%. Women veteran suicides increased by 85% in that same time period.
Bill Requiring VA Study of Female Veterans' Suicide Prevention Programs Heads to President Obama
Thursday, June 30, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
The "Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act " passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assess whether or not their programs are meeting the needs of female veterans. Under the Clay Hunt SAV Act, the VA is required to annually review its suicide prevention and mental health programs. This recently passed Act specifies that the VA must collect and publish separate data and statistics on female veterans. Between 2000 to 2010, the rate of female veteran suicide was reported to have increased by 40%.
Senator: Fire VA’s Mental Health Director After Suicide Hotline Failures
Sunday, February 21, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill), Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, wrote a letter to VA Secretary McDonald calling for the firing of the VA's director of mental health after the release of the VA OIG investigative report that substantiated veterans complaints about the VA's Suicide Hotline call center.
Investigators Say a Suicide Hotline Operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Allowed Crisis Calls to Go into Voicemail and That Callers Did Not Always Receive Immediate Assistance
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
In 2014, the VA suicide crisis hotline received more than 450,000 calls, 40 percent more than 2013. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General report stated that when the Canandaigua, New York, call center is overloaded, calls are redirected to backup centers. About 1 in 6 calls were rerouted and in some cases, the calls went to voicemail. One of the backup center's staff was "apparently were unaware there was a voicemail system." What may have been perceived as anecdotal veteran complaints, were later validated. The Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson stated the VA "agrees with the report's recommendations and is working to modernize the crisis hotline."
Study of Female Veterans Suicide Would Be Required, Under New Legislation
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
A May 2015 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)report found that women veterans who successfully commit suicide do so at a rate six times greater than nonveteran women. For women veterans between 18-29 years old, the rate is 12 times that of nonveteran women. HR 2915, "The Female Veterans Suicide Prevention" bill, would require VA to identify the most effective mental health and suicide prevention programs for at-risk women veterans.
Ernst Joins Boxer, Colleagues in Introducing Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act
Friday, February 5, 2016 | Category: Suicide - National
The "Female Veterans Suicide Prevention Act," was introduced on February 5, 2016 by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The Act was a response to the Department of Veterans Affairs study of "alarming increases" in suicide among female veterans.
Ernst, Colleagues, Introduce Bill to Prevent Female Veteran Suicides
Thursday, February 4, 2016 | Category: Suicide - Maine
On February 3, 2016, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced "The Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act." From 2000 to 2010, according to a recent Department of Veterans Affairs study, rates of suicide among female veterans increased by 40 percent. The study also found that female veterans' suicide rate is approximately six times greater than that of civilian women and that risk doubles for female veterans between the ages of 18-29. More than 174,000 veteran and non-veteran suicides were tracked during the research. Representative Julia Brownley's (D-CA) similar House legislation, H.R. 2915, passed out of the House Veterans Affairs Committee in September 2015.