US women veterans more likely to commit suicide

US women veterans are more than twice as likely to commit suicide, with their suicide rate 2.5 times higher than for female civilians, according to new US government data.

Among men, the risk was 19 percent higher among veterans compared to civilians, according to the figures released Friday by US Department of Veterans Affairs.

As a whole, older veterans make up most military suicides – roughly 65 percent were age 50 years or older.

"It can be tough because the military is a close-knit community and you have that familial feel," Jones said. "As you transition out, you tend to lose that a little bit and feel like an island onto yourself."

Ret. Army Sgt. Shawn Jones, executive director of Stop Soldier Suicide, said veterans suicide is an issue that needs greater awareness to provide community support for those in need. Transitioning back to civilian life can be difficult for active-duty members who may return home with physical and mental conditions and feel unable to open up to friends or families. As a result, some veterans can feel overwhelmed by daily challenges of finding a job, buying a home and supporting a family.

The VA data also reaffirmed that suicide among military veterans is extraordinarily high in western US and rural areas, suggesting social isolation, gun ownership and lack of access to proper VA health care may be factors.

The overall rate in the West was 45.5 percent. All other regions of the country had rates below the national rate.

It is the first-ever Department of Veterans Affairs data on suicide by state. It showed US states of Montana, Utah, Nevada and New Mexico had the highest rates of veteran suicide as of 2014, according to the most current VA data available. The suicide rates in those four states stood at 60 per 100,000 individuals or higher, far above the national veteran suicide rate of 38.4 percent. Veterans in large parts of those states must drive 70 miles or more to reach the nearest VA medical center.

Other US states with high veteran suicide rates, including West Virginia, Oklahoma and Kentucky, had greater levels of prescription drug use, including opioids. A VA study last year found veterans who received the highest doses of opioid painkillers were more than twice as likely to die by suicide compared to those receiving the lowest doses.

Rajeev Ramchand, an epidemiologist who studies suicide for the RAND Corporation said it was hard to pinpoint specific causes behind veteran suicide but likely involved factors more prevalent in rural areas, such as social isolation, limited health care access, gun ownership and opioid addiction. Nationally, 70 percent of the veterans who take their lives had not previously been connected to VA care.

"This requires closer investigation into why suicide rates by veteran status are higher, including the role that opiates play," Ramchand said.

The dataset offers more detailed breakdowns on national figures released last year, which found that 20 veterans a day committed suicide. The numbers come from the largest study undertaken of veterans' records by the VA, part of a government effort to uncover fresh information about where to direct resources and identify veterans most at-risk.

The department has been examining ways to boost suicide prevention efforts.

"These findings are deeply concerning, which is why I made suicide prevention my top clinical priority," said VA Secretary David Shulkin. "This is a national public health issue."

Shulkin, who has worked to provide same-day mental health care at VA medical centers, recently expanded emergency mental care to veterans with other than honorable discharges. The department is also boosting its suicide hotline and expanding telehealth options.

The attention on veteran suicide comes at a time when the VA has reported a huge upswing in veterans seeking medical care as they have returned from conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Veterans' groups say the latest data may raise questions about the department's push to expand private-sector care.

"Veterans often have more complex injuries," said Allison Jaslow, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, citing limitations if civilian doctors don't understand the unique challenges of the veterans' population. If doctors don't ask the right questions to a veteran complaining of back pain, for instance, they may prescribe opioids not realizing the veteran was also suffering PTSD or brain injury after being blown up in a humvee, said Jaslow, a former Army captain.

Expanding private-sector care and stemming veterans' suicide are priorities of President Donald Trump. In a statement this week as part of Suicide Prevention Month, Trump said the US "must do more" to help mentally troubled veterans.

(AP)