Suicide Prevention Research

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, between 1999 and 2016, suicide rates increased in nearly every state, with a >30% increase in 25 states. Data from 2015 from 27 states indicate that 54% of those who committed suicide did not have a mental health condition, but relationship, substance use disorders, health and financial problems are also known contributing factors.^[i]

Veterans are disproportionately affected by suicide—for example, in 2014, Veterans comprised 8.5% of the US population, but accounted for 18% of deaths by suicide—and preventing suicide is VA's top clinical priority. VA’s Health Services Research and Development Service funds research that looks at a variety of ways to understand and prevent Veteran suicide. To learn more about that research, the following resources are available:

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[i] Stone DM, Simon TR, Fowler KA, et al. Vital Signs: Trends in State Suicide Rates — United States, 1999–2016 and Circumstances Contributing to Suicide — 27 States, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:617–624. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6722a1

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Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.