Preventing Suicide Among Veterans

Course overview

Veterans who are transitioning back to civilian life face a number of stressors and challenges. Suicide rates among U.S. veterans are 1.5 times higher than the rates of suicide among civilian adults in the U.S. (Department of Veterans Affairs [VA], 2019c). Unfortunately, numerous barriers, including stigma toward mental illness and equating help-seeking with "weakness," prevent veterans from accessing needed treatment. More than 60% of U.S. veterans currently experiencing suicidal ideation are not engaged in mental health treatment (Nichter et al., 2020). As a behavioral health professional who supports veterans in their readjustment to civilian life, it is critical that you understand the unique challenges and needs of this population.