Part four

Veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than nonveteran adults. 

American Psychology Association

Here’s a link to VA stats if you’d like to look more into the numbers when it comes to Veteran suicide.

But don’t lose hope, 2020 had the lowest number of Veteran suicides since 2006!

According to the VA, “The overall downward trends in Veteran suicide in 2019 and 2020 are encouraging. They followed VA’s launch of the 2018 National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide (National Strategy). This was built upon the foundation of the U.S. Surgeon General’s and National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.”

From the CDC: Comprehensive suicide prevention requires the coordination of public health, healthcare, jobs and economic development, education, housing and other sectors. One key role for public health is to bring these partners together to focus on comprehensive state and community efforts with the greatest likelihood of preventing suicide. Such an approach focuses both upstream, to prevent people from becoming suicidal in the first place, as well as addressing the needs of people at risk by connecting them to services and supports. 

We should be working together collectively to lower these numbers.

For whom the Bell Tolls

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.