On January 23, 2024, NYHealth hosted a discussion about trends in veteran suicide in New York and nationally; the role of firearms; and prevention efforts deployed in New York State that may serve as a guide for others to replicate.
Recent findings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reveal an increase in veteran suicides nationwide in 2021, continuing a trend that began at the turn of the century. Although New York State, home to nearly 600,000 military veterans, has one of the lowest veteran suicide rates in the nation, suicide remains a persistent challenge. New York veterans die by suicide at a rate nearly 2x as high as civilians. Younger veterans are at especially high risk; they consistently experience the highest rates of suicide within the State.
Panelists were:
- Gabriela Khazanov, Ph.D., Research Psychologist, Center of Excellence for Substance Addiction Treatment and Education, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
- Stephanie Gamble, Ph.D., Director, VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center
- Marianne Goodman, M.D., Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director, VISN 2 Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center (MIRECC)
Watch the webinar recording here.
Additional Resources: