Noteboom The Law Firm

More Information is Needed to Understand U.S. Veterans Suicides

According to an article in The New York Times, every U.S. veteran suicide not only has an impact on family and friends but it impacts national security and public health too. Without better information, being able to fully address the problem is something that’ll likely remain out of reach.

Almost 300 active duty soldiers took their own lives in the year 2010. Even though a way to stop them has not been found, the information we do possess about military suicides and soldiers who commit suicides, is who they were and what they were facing prior to taking their own lives financially, legally, and personally. It’s a fact, taken from the Army, that soldiers who were deployed are more likely to attempt suicide and in the following ways: 

• ·        14% with a military firearm;
• ·        48% with a personally owned gun; and
• ·        25% by hanging.

Veterans don’t follow the same patterns, per say. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 18 veterans take their own lives every day.

Considering veteran suicides aren’t tracked by branch of service or if they had previously deployed, there may be little information on their mental health conditions or if their mental health issues are even service-connected. For those veterans not enrolled with the VA, there’s even less information available.

Without that valuable information, it’s not possible to know why they chose to end their own lives, which makes it hard to successfully address the veteran suicide issue altogether.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.