This Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) “2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report” provides new information regarding suicide mortality among Veterans and non-Veteran U.S. adults, from 2001 through 2021, including the first full year of information since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020. This annual report of Veteran suicide mortality over time is a critical part of our public health approach to inform next steps in suicide prevention across the Nation, reflecting on the lives lost and reviewing themes of action to move forward to prevent suicide. In alignment with prior concerns about the potential for increases in suicide rates with the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and consistent with trends for the overall U.S. population, this report documents increases in suicide rates in 2021 for Veterans and non-Veteran U.S. adults. Overall reductions in suicide rates among U.S. adults in 2019 and 2020 were not repeated in 2021. This may reflect a trend in which suicide rates are seen to initially remain stable or diminish during emergencies and natural disasters, due to a collective “coming together,” followed by increases in rates in ensuing years.
In 2021, 6,392 Veterans died by suicide, an increase of 114 suicides from 2020. When looking at increases in rates from
2020 to 2021, the age- and sex-adjusted suicide rate among Veterans increased by 11.6%, while the age- and sex-adjusted suicide rate among non-Veteran U.S. adults increased by 4.5%. Veterans remain at elevated risk for suicide. These numbers are more than statistics — they reflect Veterans’ lives prematurely ended, which continue to be grieved by family members, loved ones and the Nation. One Veteran suicide is 1 too many. In this report we reflect on the context of 2021 and the themes of data which will drive us towards further action for our work together in the mission of suicide prevention. Our actions are built upon a foundation of hope, and we begin our review reflecting first upon these anchors for our future work together.