page_title: United States military veteran suicide
section_title: Protective Factors
hierarchical_section_title: United States military veteran suicide / Protective Factors
context_page_description: United States military veteran suicide is an ongoing phenomenon regarding the reportedly high rate of suicide among U.S. military veterans, in comparison to the general civilian public.
  A focus on preventing veteran suicide began in 1958 with the opening of the first suicide prevention center in the United States. During the mid 1990s, a paradigm shift in addressing veteran suicide occurred with the development of a national strategy which included several Congressional Resolutions. More advancements were made in 2007, when the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act created a comprehensive program including outreach at each Veterans Affairs Office and the implementation of a 24-hour crisis hotline. PTSD, depression, and combat-related guilt in veterans are often related to suicide as it can be difficult for veterans to transition to civilian life.
context_section_description: Veterans can have difficulty transitioning from the military to civilian life. Many use their G.I. Bill or other education benefits; this can facilitate the transition to civilian life. Veterans pursuing education, especially those utilizing the post 9/11 GI Bill, are more likely to have protective factors related to socialization and reintegration.
  However, the pursuit of education can also aggravate post-service conditions linked to a higher likelihood of suicide. These conditions include:
  Difficulty relating to fellow students
  Difficulty in coping with military experiences in an academic environment
  Lack of support or understanding for service connected disabilities
  Negative stigmas related to military service
  Feelings of isolation
  Feelings of separation
  Lack of social support
  Difficulty with stable or reliable income
  Difficulty with stable housing
  Despite these challenges, veterans often benefit from transitioning from the military into higher education. Academic life often requires student veterans to work and interact with other classmates. Many academic institutions have student veteran organizations and resources centers specifically to aid military veterans. Military education benefits often utilized by veterans include the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. These benefits cover tuition expenses up to a capped amount per academic year depending on benefit utilized. In addition, a stipend for books, supplies and housing is also provided within these benefits. Education benefits often give veteran students an income, a goal to continue to work towards and socialization with the general population.
  Suicide rates for veterans are on a slight downward trend. Veterans generally have access to mental healthcare, and some branches take more proactive measures to reduce stigma and promote mental well-being, but the approach is inconsistent. It can be a challenge to obtain mental healthcare prior to discharge and to find individualized treatment. Mental health facilities, primary care providers and the Veterans Association do not always coordinate. Nationwide, there is a trend toward a broader spectrum treatment approach. The sustainability of long-term treatment plans may depend on communicating options about available treatment types, enabling veterans to access treatment, convincing them that it is socially acceptable to ask for help, eliminating stigma, and giving them a purpose to succeed.  
  Many non-profit organizations exist to promote awareness in local communities, such as Wingman Project and 22Kill. In 2013, 22Kill was started as a social media campaign to raise awareness about the staggering Veteran suicide statistics. By 2015, 22Kill had established itself as a 501c non-profit organization and soon after launched the viral #22Pushup Challenge. This movement helped them raise over half a million dollars and brought widespread attention to the Veteran suicide epidemic.  During this time, 22Kill transitioned from awareness campaigns to suicide prevention offering a multitude of programs. These include clinical programs, non-traditional therapies along with family and community programs.
caption: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill into law on June 22, 1944. This provided veterans with funds for college education, low-interest loans, unemployment insurance, and living expenses.
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