TENNESSEE, USA — Suicide rates are increasing among female veterans, according to a new report by nonprofit Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
The report, “Women Veterans: The Journey to Mental Wellness,” highlights gaps in mental health care services for female veterans and offers potential solutions.
Women only represent about 10% of all veterans, but the report said they are twice as likely to attempt suicide than their male counterparts. The report notes that veteran suicide rates for women went up 24.1% between 2020 and 2021.
The assessment points to several reasons for this including military sexual trauma, domestic violence and substance abuse. Army veteran Celeste Gray served for over eight years and said she has seen many other service members struggle with their mental health.
"With PTSD, it's different for everybody,” said Gray. “I've seen some people break down. Break down to the point where they end up in the hospital."
Other contributors to the increase are reproductive health issues.
DAV said there is a lack of access to healthcare for some veterans, while others just don’t know what services are available. The report found many women veterans, like Gray, did not know about the resources from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I did fall through the cracks of not knowing the resources and the benefits I could get when I got out the military,” Gray said.
To reduce veteran suicides, the VA is focused on clinical intervention and community-based outreach. But the report and Gray are urging the VA to do more.
"Suicide prevention training. Different classes of our different resources," Gray said. "If they provided that when I was in, then we would know. And the ones joining the military, learn all that you can."
The report includes over 50 policy recommendations for improvement including gender specific healthcare, better sexual trauma screenings and more access for women in rural areas.
If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call the confidential veteran crisis at 988 or text 838255.
