VA: 20 veterans a day die by suicide

WASHINGTON, July 7 (UPI) -- At least 7,403 U.S. veterans killed themselves in 2014 -- a nationwide average of 20 a day, Department of Veterans Affairs data indicates.

Although veterans make up less than 9 percent of the U.S. population, veteran suicides account for 18 percent of all U.S. suicides. About 70 percent of veterans who killed themselves did not regularly use VA services.

The 2014 data released Thursday is the first time the VA made a precise summary of veteran suicides, instead of conducting estimates as it did previously.

Those 50 or older accounted for 65 percent of all veteran suicides in 2014. The highest suicide rate was among male veterans age 18-29 at 86 per 100,000 people -- nearly four times the rate among active-duty service members in 2015. The suicide rate among young female veterans age 18-29 was 33 per 100,000 people -- more than double the overall U.S. suicide rate for women.

David Shulkin, undersecretary of health for the VA, said that while the new data show veteran suicides are lower than the 2010 average of 22 a day, the number is "still far too high."

Shulkin said a final report will be released in a few weeks that will share more insight into suicide trends. The report will include the nationwide examination of 55 million veteran death records starting from 1979.

In a statement, the VA said it hopes the information will allow officials to "inform our suicide prevention programs and policies, especially for groups at elevated risk for suicide, including older and female veterans."

The risk of suicide for veterans is 21 percent higher when compared to civilian adults. The civilian suicide rate rose by about 23 percent from 2001 to 2014, whereas the suicide rate among veterans increased by more than 32 percent in the same time frame.

From 2001 to 2014, the suicide rate for female veterans increased by 85 percent -- compared to a 40 percent increase for civilian women.