Veterans

Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions

Approximately 31% of veterans using VA healthcare have a confirmed mental health diagnosis. PTSD is one of the most common conditions. Lifetime prevalence among all veterans is about 7% (slightly higher than the ~6% in the general population). Among veterans using VA care, rates are higher: ~14% for men and ~24% for women diagnosed with PTSD in FY 2024. For post-9/11 veterans (OEF/OIF), about 11–20% experience PTSD in a given year, with lifetime rates approaching 29% in some studies. Female veterans experience PTSD at nearly double the rate of males (~13% vs. ~6%).

Veterans & Mental Health

Many veterans do not receive needed care—only about half of those who need mental health services seek it in some estimates. Barriers can include stigma, logistics, or lack of awareness. Rates are particularly elevated among younger veterans (18–34), those who are homeless, those with certain health/pain issues, and in the period following military separation.

Depression & Substance Abuse

Among veterans with a mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis, suicide rates are significantly higher (nearly double in some analyses compared to those without such diagnoses). Common co-occurring diagnoses include depression (~64% of relevant cases), anxiety, PTSD (~40%), and alcohol use disorder.

  • Depression and anxiety are also prevalent. About 1 in 3 veterans may experience some symptoms of depression, with 1 in 5 having serious symptoms. Veterans are roughly five times more likely to experience major depression than civilians in some analyses.
  • Substance Use Disorders (SUD) affect about 14% of U.S. veterans (2.8 million) in a given year per recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health data. Alcohol is the most common (nearly three-quarters of veterans with SUD). Co-occurrence is high: up to 60% of veterans with PTSD also have an SUD, and veterans with SUD are 3–4 times more likely to have PTSD or depression.

Suicide Among Veterans

In 2023, 6,398 veterans died by suicide (down 44 from 6,442 in 2022), averaging about 17.5 veteran suicides per day. Of these, roughly 39% were among veterans who had recent VA health care contact, while 61% were not receiving VA care in the prior year.
The unadjusted suicide rate for veterans in 2023 was approximately 35.2 per 100,000 (highest since at least 2018 in some metrics). This is about 1.5 times higher than the rate for non-veteran U.S. adults.

  • Male veterans had a rate of ~37.8 per 100,000 (up slightly from 37.3); female veterans ~13.9 (up from 13.7).
  • Female veterans’ rate is substantially higher than non-veteran women (~92% higher in some comparisons).
  • Firearms are involved in the majority of veteran suicides (~73% for males, ~51% for females in recent data), higher than the ~53% for non-veterans.

Risk & Protective Factors

  • Risk factors include prior mental health conditions (especially PTSD, depression, SUD), traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, homelessness, social isolation, transition challenges after service, and access to lethal means (e.g., firearms). Younger veterans and those not engaged in VA care show elevated risks in some data.
  • Protective factors include strong social connections and belongingness, resilience built through service, access to VA mental health and SUD care, positive coping skills, a sense of purpose, and community support. Virtual/telehealth mental health services have been linked to reduced suicide-related events.

Access to Care & Trends

Veterans Affairs (VA) provides extensive services, including screening (over 5.3 million suicide risk screenings completed in one recent year), crisis support, evidence-based therapies for PTSD, and integrated care for co-occurring conditions. Initiatives like lethal means safety counseling and community partnerships aim to reach veterans outside VA care.

  • Positive notes: Veteran homelessness has declined in recent years, and some suicide prevention efforts (e.g., virtual care) show promise in reducing risks. These statistics highlight that while challenges exist, mental health conditions are treatable, and suicide is preventable. Many veterans live full, meaningful lives with the right support.

Help is available 24/7:

• Veterans Crisis Line: Call or text 988 then press 1, or chat at Veterans Crisis Line
• For immediate danger, call 911.
• Additional resources: VA mental health services, or Find A Help Line