How Common is it Really?
We can say PTSD and suicide are way to common all we want, but its hard to put it in perspective without numbers sometimes. So let break that down. Suicide is the 12th most common reason for veteran loss of life (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2024). That number climbs even higher in the under 45 group to 2nd most common (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2024). 6407 military vets just in 2022 alone (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2024). That comes out to 17.6 parents, siblings, friends a DAY (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2024). I don't know about you but that too many for me.
What about PTSD though? What if you aren't a harm to yourself just struggling. How common is that? Up to 29 percent of vets will experience PTSD at some point (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023). If it's that common, then why does it have to be shameful to get help?
(U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2024). ANNUAL REPORT Office of Suicide Prevention Part 2 of 2: Report Findings. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2024/2024-Annual-Report-Part-2-of-2_508.pdf
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2023). How common is PTSD in veterans? Va.gov; U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp
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