Kids & Family
More Veterans Die From Suicide Than Combat; Urge Them To Get Help
20 percent of U.S. suicides are military veterans. If you know a troubled vet, tell them seeking treatment is a sign of strength. It's chemistry, not character.
U.S. military veterans represent 20 percent of suicides nationally, according to the American Psychiatric Association, which has partnered with U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy to ask Americans to urged veterans to get the treatment they need and deserve.
Sadly, more military members died by suicide than from combat, according to the APA.
The infographic attached to this article illustrates the sobering stats about the military, suicide and mental illness. These stats include:
·The suicide rate among our military community is at its highest rate in 10 years of war.
·The prevalence of traumatic brain injury, which is associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation, is about 8% to 20% in military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
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·300,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with PTSD.
Mental illness stigma is a serious issue in the military, and our troops need to hear that seeking help for mental health is a sign of strength. A soldier’s brain is a significant part of his or her body and should be treated as such. Many more resources can be found at APA's section devoted to military and mental health.
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In addition to the infographic, this PSA with Rep. Patrick Kennedy urges military spouses and families to encourage their loved ones to seek help for their mental health as they would do for their physical wounds.
“It’s up to all of us as members of the American family to embrace our veterans so they stop suffering in silence,” Kennedy said.
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