By
NYHealth
Funding Area
Veterans’ Health
Date
December 7, 2022
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New @NYHFoundation data brief: The rate of veteran suicide in New York State appears to have stabilized in recent years, but warning signs suggest that progress is fragile.
A new @NYHFoundation brief examines the latest data from @DeptVetAffairs and other sources to explore the current state of veteran suicide in New York State and nationally.
.@NYHFoundation data brief finds that New York veterans have had a dramatic increase in firearm use for suicide.
Suicide among veterans is a persistent national challenge despite increased federal and state attention.
Many predicted that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic could exacerbate behavioral health and related challenges for the veteran population and increase suicide rates, but newly released data show that veteran suicide rates in New York State have stabilized in recent years.
Yet suicide rates among veterans are still significantly worse than they were 15 years ago. And warning signs on the horizon suggest that progress is fragile and the recent stabilization of veteran suicide rates could be fleeting.
This data brief examines the latest data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other sources to explore the current state of veteran suicide in New York State and nationally.
Key Takeaways:
- The rate of veteran suicide in New York State appears to have stabilized in recent years, but warning signs suggest that progress is fragile.
- Suicide rates among veterans are twice as high as among the civilian population.
- Younger veterans (ages 18–54) experience the highest rates of suicide.
- New York veterans have had a dramatic increase in firearm use for suicide.
