VA puts latest estimate of veteran suicides at 20 per day
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Department of Veterans Affairs says that an average of 20 veterans a day committed suicide in 2014, a slight decrease from a previous government estimate for 2010.
But federal health officials are cautious about concluding the problem has lessened.
Rather, they say the Department of Veterans Affairs is relying on a more comprehensive database than ever before, making comparisons to prior studies difficult. The prior study had projected 22 veteran suicides a day.
The latest data shows that even though large numbers of veterans have returned from the stresses of war in the Middle East, older veterans continue to bear a heavy burden. About two-thirds of all veterans committing suicide were 50 and over. Also, the suicide rate among female veterans was more than twice that for female civilians.
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Leave a Reply