[20210729]IF11886_退伍军人自杀预防.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov July 29, 2021Veteran Suicide PreventionBackground Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Although suicide rates have increased among the U.S. general population over the past two decades, veterans are disproportionately affected by suicide. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in the period of 2005-2018, suicide rates increased more quickly among veterans compared to nonveteran adults, adjusting for age and sex. In 2018the most recent year in which national data are availablethe suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times greater than among nonveteran adults (see Figure 1), and an average of 17.6 veterans died by suicide per day. Figure 1. Veteran and Nonveteran Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population, 20052018 Rates Adjusted for Age and Sex Source: Prepared by CRS using VA 2005-2018 National Suicide Data Appendix accompanying the 2020 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. VA data suggest that use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services by specific veteran populations can reduce suicide. VA has named suicide as its top clinical priority for FY2018 to FY2024. As a result, the department has