Why Are Veterans at Higher Risk for Suicide?

Veterans face many challenging situations and difficulties throughout their careers and thereafter, all of which can increase the risk of Veteran suicide.¹ In fact, the American Psychological Association reports that Veterans have a 1.5 higher risk of suicide than non-Veterans because of their unique circumstances and struggles.¹

This article will help you understand:

• Veteran suicide rates, facts, and other statistics.
• Veteran suicide causes & risk factors.
• Veteran suicide warning signs.
• The link between Veterans and addiction and suicide.
• Treatment options for Veterans with co-occurring disorders.
• How to find help, including Veteran suicide prevention programs.

If you’re a Veteran, or if you have a loved one who is a Veteran, you may be understandably concerned about the risks of addiction and suicide. However, you should know that effective treatment can help you or your loved one deal with these struggles and start the path to recovery.

Veteran Suicide Facts and Statistics

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the US, and Veteran suicide statistics show that it is more prevalent in Veterans than in the rest of the population.² 

• Veterans are reported to have a 1.5 higher risk of suicide than non-Veterans.¹ In 2020, the suicide rate for Veterans was 57.3% greater than for non-Veteran U.S. adults.³
• In 2020, there were 6,146 Veteran suicides (16.8 per day).³ There were 343 fewer Veteran suicides in 2020 than in 2019.³
• In 2020, the unadjusted suicide rate of Veteran men was 33.7 per 100,000, which was 2.3% lower than in 2019, and 13.8 per 100,000 for Veteran women, which was 20.3% lower than in 2019.³
• Veterans aged 18-34 had an unadjusted suicide rate of 46.1 per 100,000; the rate was 31.8 per 100,000 for those aged 35-54, 27.4 per 100,000 for those aged 55-74, and 32.0 per 100,000 for those aged 75 and older.³
• Veterans who live in rural areas are estimated to be about 20% more likely to die by suicide than urban-based Veterans.¹

Veteran Suicide Risk Factors

Veterans often experience a disproportionate level of exposure to a wide range of dynamics that could contribute to an increased suicide risk.² However, there is no single set of circumstances or events that make a person more at-risk for suicide. Often it is a combination of factors —  from personal to societal, relationships and community⁴ — that can increase risk. Some of these risk factors include:

• Physical problems and trauma, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or chronic pain.^4,6 
• Mental health conditions, including Veteran depression or PTSD.^{2, 7} 
• Disabilities (including physical and mental health problems).³
• Recent transition from military service to civilian life.³
• Substance use and substance use disorders.⁴
• Social isolation.¹
• Unemployment or underemployment.³
• Financial insecurity.³
• Lack of access to physical and mental healthcare.³
• Access to firearms.^{2, 7} 
• Previous suicide attempts.⁴

Suicide Warning Signs

Certain signs can indicate that a person might be contemplating suicide.⁵  The warning signs of suicide in Veterans can include:⁵

• Hopelessness or feeling like there is no way out.⁵
• Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, or mood swings.⁵
• Feeling like they have no reason to live.⁵
• Rage or anger.⁵
• Risk-taking activities.⁵
• Increasing alcohol or drug use.⁵
• Withdrawing from family and friends.⁵
• Saying they feel like they’re a burden to others.⁴
• Talking or posting online about wanting to die.⁴
• Looking for ways to access things that could be lethal (e.g., guns).⁴
• Saying they feel trapped or they have unbearable pain.⁴
• Sleeping too much or not enough.⁴
• Making plans to commit suicide.⁴
• Answering yes when asked if they are making plans to kill themselves.⁵

The Link Between Addiction and Suicide

Substance use and substance use disorders are risk factors for suicide, can trigger mental health symptoms, and can also make symptoms of co-occurring mental health disorders, such as those from depression and PTSD, worse.^1,8

Mental health disorders and SUDs are linked in different ways, and it’s not always clear which disorder developed first — though they both affect and can exacerbate one another.⁸

Sometimes, a mental health disorder can lead to a substance use disorder, such as if someone starts using substances to self-medicate the symptoms of a mental health condition.⁸ Other times, substance use can trigger a mental health disorder, such as when someone who uses cocaine develops psychosis.⁸ Finally, co-occurring disorders can be bidirectional, such as when there are other factors, like homelessness, that can affect both problems, and causality is not easy to determine.⁸

Treatment Options for Veterans with Co-Occurring Disorders

No matter how things might seem, there is always hope, and treatment can help Veterans struggling with co-occurring disorders. Depending on the specific concern, Veterans may participate in different therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to help them with suicide-related thoughts and behaviors, help them learn healthier ways of coping with mental health problems, and start the path to recovery from substance misuse.^5,8

Different settings for treatment include:

• Inpatient treatment. You live onsite and receive 24-hour care, monitoring, and support in a safe, supervised setting.¹⁰ You’ll be away from the distractions of your day-to-day environment so you can more fully focus on recovery.
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP). This is an intensive outpatient program, where you’ll live at home and travel to a facility for treatment most days of the week, for up to 20 hours of treatment each week.¹⁰
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP). This is less intense than PHP, but it provides a higher level of support than standard outpatient treatment. People participate in treatment for 6-19 hours per week.¹⁰
• Outpatient treatment. These programs can vary widely in intensity and programming, with many requiring just a few hours (often 9 hours or less) of treatment per week.¹⁰ People may use outpatient programs as a step-down after completing more intense programs.¹⁰

American Addiction Centers (AAC) is part of the VA’s community provider network, and we offer a treatment track especially for Veterans through our Salute to Recovery program.

Does the VA or TRICARE Cover Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment?

The VA covers mental health and addiction treatment, but you may need to be enrolled with the VA for certain services, and the exact coverage can also depend on your needs and situation.¹¹ You can call the general VA hotline at 1-800-827-1000 to find out more about your options.¹¹ 

You can use VA benefits alongside other insurance coverage, including Tricare, Medicaid, or Medicare.¹² However, individual plans will vary in coverage, so it’s important to verify your exact coverage with your insurance carrier.

Helping Veterans in Crisis

There is always hope, and if a Veteran you know is struggling, you can also contact the VA’s Veteran suicide prevention programs by calling 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or chatting online.^{13 how do I talk}

Finding a treatment center that understands the unique needs of Veterans is important. If you or your loved one need help, please contact AAC’s free, confidential helpline at to learn more about your recovery options.