We recently released our 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, which, in addition to data, highlights seven strategies we’re taking to support Veterans.
In this story—the first in a series of two—we’ll talk about the first two strategies we’re taking throughout the next year and beyond to meet Veterans where they are and with the resources they need.
Promoting secure firearm storage
With firearms being the most common means of suicide among Veterans, discussions about secure firearm storage are critical. Research shows a suicide crisis is usually brief, and securely storing firearms puts time and space between a Veteran and a firearm.
This can allow thoughts of suicide to decrease before a Veteran can access a firearm. It’s also important to remember most people attempting suicide won’t change their method if their attempt is interrupted. Meaning if a Veteran in crisis is trying to access a gun, a barrier could save their life as they’re less likely to try another means.
Keep It Secure provides Veterans, their families and communities with resources and information on how to securely store firearms. In addition, VA distributes free cable gun locks through VA medical centers, community organizations and local law enforcement agencies (find VA locations through our Resource Locator).
VA also offers VA S.A.V.E. training, which is a free, brief, online or in-person course that will help you provide care and compassion if you come across a Veteran who is in crisis or having thoughts of suicide.
Building and sustaining community collaborations
Our mission is to reduce Veteran suicide, but we can’t do it alone. That’s why we partner with groups across the country to reach as many Veterans as possible. Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention (CBI-SP) works with nearly 2,500 local coalitions nationwide. Together, we provide resources and services in places where more than 70% of Veterans live.
CBI-SP focuses on identifying at-risk Veterans, promoting care transitions and enhancing safety planning. We recently launched new initiatives to address suicide among American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans who have some of the highest suicide rates among those who receive VA care.
CBI-SP has provided $4 million in cooperative agreements to increase reviews of health records to gather information to help prevent future Veteran suicides.
Through a partnership with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, we work with firearm retailers and range owners to encourage secure firearm storage practices. This provides effective actions Veterans and their loved ones can take during times of suicide crises to potentially save lives.
Ongoing and future efforts in Veteran Suicide Prevention
Supporting Veterans is a mission we all share. VA alone cannot end Veteran suicide. Together, we can create a compassionate, supportive network to empower Veterans, and to reassure them that help is available, they are valued and there is hope. Stay tuned for our next article, which highlights the next five strategies we’re focusing on in 2025.
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VA’s latest data shows a decrease in the suicide rate among women Veterans, but more effective interventions and support systems are needed.
Making healthy choices about what you eat and drink is a powerful way to care for yourself. You need the right fuel to feel well and have the energy to do what matters most to you.
Blind TeleRehabilitation offers blind and visual impairment rehabilitation assessment, training, specialized technology and support groups.
The military needs to unwind our troops after wars . After all they’ve done and witnessed.
Before going back to civilian life they should go through a boot camp and helping in community service. So they can unwind and know their more to service them using a weapon. You can’t train someone to kill and fight at 100 miles per hour and expect to just have them shut it off.
You also need to train there families and friends how to recognize someone who is suicidal.
As vets we can become part of the solution. We are best able to spot when another vet is having problems. The VA should deliver local phych first aid classes to help us to understand how we can best help our brothers and sisters in arms.
The VA has failed in Suicide Prevention because the majority of VA Employees are Communist Democrats. Your suggestion to hide Veterans guns in this article is intended to be subversive to our Constitution and based on Federal Employees attempt to disarm soldiers for political and personal motivations. I have listened to your Suicide messages for 56 years and always considered them insulting garbage from idiot communists. WTF!! Thinking of Suicide? Call this number and push 5 for another message and more instructions until another communist answers the phone. Veterans kill themselves because the VA has always been incompetent in the identification of health problems and the distribution of Health Care.
Wow, you sure are one angry SOB. Have you ever considered being part of the solution and not part of the problem.
The pond at JLP MEMORIAL VETERANS MEDICAL CENTER in Loma Linda, CA. Is a source that has been helping not only veterans with mental health issues for years so why is it being removed. I’m tired of being told that VA is taking care of veterans mental health and taking away activities that are doing that.
im a vietnan vet that understands and would like to help espically children tha lost a parent to war
The VA gets much criticism, but it has evolved a long way from what it was. Unfortunately, despite how the stats are twisted, the suicide rate is not changing overall. It is my belief the support needs to be closer to the community so it is faster.
I believe Project 22 is important for our Veterans.
I am a wife of a Veteran. However, I lost my sister to suicide several years ago. I will say this, locking a gun in a safe is a nice thought. Nonetheless, it is NOT enough. Suicide is the end result of mental illness. It’s not an interrupted thought.
I love our Military. I love our Veterans. It’s time to fight. Really fight for what you deserve. This small blurb of an article is not it.
We have to do more. Do not have what is already there for you, Project 22, taken away.
Va certainly didn’t help my husband at all. Infact made it even worse for him. Lost him to war related ptsd suicide. All they did was kept going over and over everything he did and saw in war.
You can’t ‘prevent’ Veteran Suicides until VA Mental Health is investigated for the 1000s of Veterans lost to Suicides as a result of PTSD Drug Research since 1991. H.R. 841__ “Veterans’ PTSD Treatment and Psychological Readjustment Act of 1991”
Ref: 110th Congressional Hearing 21Apr 2010 “The Truth About Veterans’ Suicides”. Pages 81, 82 and 110
SSRIstories.Net
You know what else would also help veterans with suicide prevention? Not being denied ANY reasonable care they should receive, that includes GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, to include long denied surgical procedures. But y’all continue to ignore the research, data, and veterans themselves, and are instead dead set on committing this genocide. Fuck the complicit VA, hope you all burn.
If you are taking the topic of veteran suicide seriously, then put resources towards this issue, like peer navigators, including therapists and therapies. I have experienced a lack of both at the VA. Plus, more cuts to services, by firing these folks, but you are claiming it’ll get better, nor worse, when it has never met our needs? But, I’m just a veteran, what does my opinion matter.
Running a Veteran Support Group as a volunteer in the VA’s suicide prevention efforts gives me new purpose at age 80. Helping with cross-training, I get to share my published work in PSYCHIATRIC TIMES, the leading psychiatric journal reaching 50,000 psychiatrists monthly, and my lead article in COMBAT STRESS Magazine read by 100,000 to 200,000 interested parties. Very happy to share access to these, gratis, to anyone working in this field out there. The VA treats its geriatric volunteers like V.I.P.s. In a joint interview by Emmy-winning reporter and veteran Nick Smith on NewsNation, I offered the published works and first among those requesting them was the VA person facilitating community suicide prevention for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Let’s make some noise and SAVE OUR VA!
You can prevent veteran suicide by not having the V.A. keep messing around with a veteran’s disability pension. Anything they come across seems to be a reason to decrease the veteran’s disability rating and of course, decrease the amount of the pension. Vietnam Vets were definitely exposed to agent orange so they say. But when an illness that was caused by agent orange, by their standards, seem to slightly improve, those clowns out in Janesville, Wisconsin are right there to take money away from us. I was rated at 20% for a non service related disability and received over $1,000 a month. Then prostate cancer was discovered and my rating went to 100% and received over $3,000 a month. After radiation treatment, I was told the cancer slightly improved and there was nothing to worry about. They reduced me back to a 20% rating and told me I would only receive $483.01 a month. I don’t know what happened, but last month I was upped to 30% and got about $190.00 more a month. So I’m up to about $690.00 a month now, This is just me. I’m sure there are many other veterans out there that are getting the shaft also. Trying to pay rent, utilities and food, at today’s prices, is almost impossible. When the veteran sees his future slipping away because some government agency doesn’t give a shit about him, he thinks the only way out is death. Give the veterans something to look forward to, instead of dragging them down to the lowest point in their life. The vet was there when you needed us, so don’t keep reducing our pensions because you feel we don’t deserve it due to health that SEEMS to have improved. You’ll most likely increase pensions when cancer or other illnesses return and is terminal. Nice, but we won’t be around too long to enjoy it. This satisfies you immensely for you don’t have to shell out any more money to the veteran after he kicks the bucket. AMERICA, WHAT A COUNTRY ??????
Trump musk don’t care if we off ourselves. We can waste our time and protest
It might be nice to treat veterans with dignity. It might be nice not to deny and deny and deny benefits they earned and were guaranteed as part of their service. Years of waiting for benefits, not handouts, but rights they have earned take their toll. Our amazing veterans who survived for months, years in conditions the rest of us can never really understand deserve all benefits they were promised in a timely manner. They should not have to wait for years! They should not have their medical benefits cut or wrapped into civilian programs. Only veterans understand what veterans have gone through while fighting to keep America safe. Only veterans know how difficult it is to return to civilization life. It takes time and civilian doctors have no frame of reference to help, although they may do their best
Stop the federal cuts, staff terminations, threats to benefits… address social determinants of health and you will save lives and reduce suffering.
To many, suicide is a better option over countless BS promises.
Keep calm and pass it on, learn how at
https://self-help-trauma.hlweb.se/
Promoting safe storage has zero impact on suicides and your “Keep it secure” is stupid and pointless concerning the subject of suicide prevention.
I think a veteran eligible for increased disability should not go it alone. Woods and Woods LLC are a team of lawyers who specifically work on the behalf of veterans. There is no fee coming or going. Lots of disabilities progress in severity from the initial assessment to become presumptive to the medical separation. I think a lot of the misinformation comes due to pressure to assimilate to civilian life without the recourses needed to fend for themselves and be productive members of society. When one earns more than they spend the cycle of stress starts to alleviate and is not a constant presence in the veteran’s horizon. Having elevated compensation percentages allows for manifold choices to look at. In the look at suicide there is a cognitive distortion that there are no choices. When self-harm proliferates it is done in obedience to a perceived standard. This is a social psychological perspective presented by a scientist named Milgram. I audit classes from worldwide universities through edX.org. Once I took the stand of knowing it all only to realize that through untold recourses of information and through study I had climbed to a plateau where I looked at myself and saw I was very favorable. I had learned that creating happiness also causes it to be returned.
Personally? While I am not suicidal? I have no purpose or meaning after I was discharged from the Marines. Serving in war and doing a job that made a difference mattered to me. UNFORTUNATELY? Absolutely NOTHING you do in the military matters in the civilian world. When you get out? it’s like you wasted your time and energy for years… and for what? Medals you will never wear again on a uniform you will never wear again? A bunch of military education courses that don’t mean anything in the civilian world? And what does one do when you look at civilian options in jobs and all of them feel like a slap in the face? Volunteering? HA!!!!!! That doesn’t pay bills AND virtually everywhere wants a bachelors degree. GI Bill? ONLY if you have a full blown honorable discharge AND you don’t squander it trying to figure out what degree is even worth your pursuit. AS we all know? College degrees don’t mean anything anymore. And what purpose does it equate to anyway? Where is the meaning? You can get the SAME meaning working at a walmart as a cashier and also the same exact wage, if not better than you would with a degree. My life had meaning and purpose when we were fighting and killing religious zealot terrorists. Now? It’s a battle between idiot liberals and their pathetic excuses for what they think is “fair” and “equal”. obviously some people who haven’t been anywhere to realize that the world is unfair and people generally want to abuse you. So the military equals a waste of time and energy with zero marketable skills and for me? I lack luster and VERY distrusting idea of civilians mixed with a very real hatred for liberals. I just don’t belong anywhere. The VA doesn’t do anything for that. except maybe try to put people in mental health groups. I hate groups. I hate people. I really HATE people that blame Trump and his administration for their problems and think Minnesota is onto something declaring Trump Derangement Syndrome as an actual mental health ailment. Oh well. I don’t want to hear from any of you, I am just throwing my 2 cents in. The military gave me a purpose. The civilian world has no purpose and I hate it
The VA censoring comments about this topic is despicable.
The VA is woefully inadequate to meet even the most basic mental health needs of veterans. There just aren’t enough mental health professionals to go around. Cutting funding and staffing for the VA only makes matters worse. Expect suicide rates to rise!
A good way to prevent suicide is to never get the Covid jab. End of story.
Very good article! However why doesn’t Nevada pass the death with dignity law? What is it they don’t understand about people being so very sick that rather then suicide they would prefer their Doctor offer a chance for them, so they don’t have to comit suicide by offering “the death with dignity law “ ?????
God Damn. If after 24 years and I don’t know how many millions of dollars you still can’t get veteran suicides to drop maybe you’re the problem. Timely access to care! ACTUALLY letting veterans use community care when the VA clearly acknowledges they can’t provide for your needs. NOPE.
THEIR BEST ADVICE, lock up your guns and go somewhere else.
Wow, who is steering this ship?
And of course, you carefully screen comments that expose your agenda. You guys are a joke.
We at TheLongWalkHome.org have found that the most effective way to prevent suicide is personnel interaction, which you may already know works one on one or a small group setting. We do this with our program, 10 Challenges to Service which you can find on our website. We are always looking for people who want to help Veterans and their families by becoming a mentor. Please join us by signing up on our website or calling me (Ron).
Currently we are walking across the country enrolling people into our program.
Well with the election and new administration in place, don’t think we’ll see a decrease in Veterans suicide for years to come unfortunately. This administration can say they support Veterans all they want but so far the exact opposite is true. Chaos and uncertainty are all they are providing right now.
This right here is what I came to say. When the government doesn’t care about any of the people they used for combat of any kind , it says a lot.
That is my issue. The not knowing . When my social security will be taken away? How long do I have before my benefits are gone? I wrote my congressman who assured me my SS would not be touched yet everyday I read it’s included in the cuts. If it weren’t for my girls (cats) well….
I have actually seen better support from this administration than the previous one!
As for seeing a decrease in Veterans suicide… I think it’s WAY too soon to make a judgement on that.
Your comment is incorrect. This President passed the Veterans Choice Program Extension and Improvement Act which I presume you have not used or heard of unfortunately.
when the VA does not listen to Veterans that have been in the training and the middle of the fight , without anyone at the VA listening to the Veteran , but just assuming it’s just like it’s spelled , Veterans Peer Counseling is helping Veterans , not Professional wannabees , the Value of Jobs that have true value , a sense of worth , Value , Self sufficiency is Imperative , Telling Veterans what they know is a lye will not change anything , Veterans committing and ending it all will not change , it will fluctuate from time to time , Not being heard pushing you into the corner will leave no place to go , no alternative , Please E-Mail me.
Great Article…this is one of the most important things that we need to have more conversations about…it saves lives..Thanks VA
I’m sure you’re a real veteran and not some paid spokesperson. All of us real vets know the VA is a sick game and they don’t help veterans.
Provide better healthcare that is more responsive to veteran’s needs. Veterans then get seen by nurses and low level heathcare workers not doctors. Their needs never get met with care. The healthcare system is like a game of telephone and doctors dont oversee the process. Its quite sloppy and the veterans suffer for it. Most ending it due to the lack of help and care from the VA. So do better which wont come for a long time unfortunately. Do better VA.
I lost my military bearing laying face up in a midnight swamp,
Watching lightening bugs swirl around me,
And meteorites scratch open the atmosphere.
Two days ago, I placed a floral wreath on the gravestone of my first casualty, and have recovered some of what was lost.
I, Vietnam Medic
I’m right there with you, brother.
Bless you, dear brother ? My deceased husband also was a medic, in the Air Force, for the soldiers returning to Nellis from Vietnam. My sons’ father, still living, served in Vietnam combat as an Army sergeant. I’m so grateful for you soldiers. I love you all.
Thank you for your service
What a heartwarming story and couragous action on your part to bring the past to the present to help draw some closure to what is an almost impossible task to accomplish. I always want to believe that such efforts to connect with those who were left before we did are somehow answered in the hereafter by finding some way — such as you did — to more intimately connect with those whose fate we escaped from. The tendency otherwise seems to try and assume more responsibility than that deserved for not being able to prevent the impossible. Instead, can we achieve acceptance that our lifelong experiences, our humanity and compassion will leave us with the sustenance to carry on in personal peace while not having to deny the tragic reality of it all.
Thanks for your service brother. You guys put your own lives on the line to keep us alive. We owe you.
How many vet suicides had been refused help at the local hospital because of low or no insurance. I overheard two nurses talking and one asked “what do we have here referred to the patient on the gurney. Her response “Oh it’s probably one of those Damn Vets looking for free pain meds” Oh well take him upstairs. The other nurse said, “Oh no not up there” Thank GOD for the VA, just wish there was a VA hospital closer to home. Whenever my wife and I go out shopping I wear my “I am a Vietnam vet with two purple heart pins ” and always get a “thank you for your service. I love it when Kids salute me, so I stand up and return their salute. I am 87 and that’s a challenge for her, but she insists. My wife takes care of me here at home, bless her. PS no way in hell am I suicidal, I promised my wife many more years to keep her happy.
Thank you for your service
Reminders are helpful. Thankfully.
Veterans on the brink of Suicide , Needs help from other veterans to help them understand why a draft dodging criminal is their command er and Chief
It’s frustrating to say the least. The military is not just about weapons. You have to have good, caring, experienced leaders.
Because he was VOTED FOR. You think Kamala would have been better? Absolutely insane thinking
Thank you for your service