Veteran Suicide Prevention

Mind the Gap: Preventing Suicide After Service

Veterans are 1.7x more likely to die by suicide than their civilian peers,¹ with the highest risk occurring during their transition from military service.²

Each year, approximately 200,000 men and women make this transition from U.S. military service to civilian life.³ The year following military service has been called the “Deadly Gap” a period in which the veteran suicide rate is more than double the rate among active duty military personnel.⁴

The transition from military service can be filled with opportunity, but veterans can also face significant challenges such as the loss of camaraderie and purpose, employment and financial stress, coping with unmet mental health conditions and more. The convergence of such challenges can create a perfect storm resulting in elevated suicide risk. At Cohen Veterans Network, we believe it’s crucial that we bring awareness to this critical period and empower our community to be there for one another.

On this page, learn more about veteran suicide prevention strategies and resources:

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Speak Up: How to Address Concerns About Suicide

Veterans transitioning from service are at an elevated risk of suicide. Before attempting suicide, individuals often exhibit one or more warning signs – though they may not explicitly mention death or use the word “suicide.” What are some expressions of emotional distress to look out for? And, importantly, how can you respond? There are three components for an effective approach:

1. Reflecting and validating what they’re expressing
2. Conveying empathy
3. Asking an open-ended follow-up question or a specific question to assess for risk 

Click on the prompts below to utilize this tool and learn more specifically what you can say or ask. 

When interacting with someone you are concerned about, it’s important to be empathetic and listen to their perspective.  Connecting someone to professional mental health services can be helpful and/or necessary. In support of this, you might say, “I’m concerned about you and want to help you feel better. Therapy can help. Do you need support finding a professional to talk to?” 

To learn more about identifying and addressing potential risk with veterans, a full training is available here.

If someone is in acute crisis or expresses thoughts of suicide, they should call, chat, or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.  If they need emergency services call 911. 

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1. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. (2023) 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2023/2023-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-508.pdf
2. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. (2019) Help with Readjustment and Social Support Needed for Veterans Transitioning from Military Service. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/docs/Literature_Review_Military_Separation_508_FINAL_05-24-2019.pdf
3. U.S. Department of Labor. (2024) Transition Assistance Program. Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap
4. Sokol, Y., Gromatsky, M., Edwards, E.R., Greene, A.L, Geraci, J.C., Harris, R.E., Goodman, M. (2021). The deadly gap: Understanding suicide among veterans transitioning out of the military, Psychiatry Research. 300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113875