New data released by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shows that the number of veteran suicides is the lowest its been in over a decade.
In 2019, veteran suicides dropped to the lowest level in 12 years with 6,261 deaths by suicide or around 17 veterans a day. The year had 399 fewer deaths than in 2018, down more than one death a day.
However, compared to the public, the rate of death by suicide is almost double for veterans. According to the VA, there were more than 32,000 veteran deaths between 2015 and 2019.
While the agency acknowledged the improvement, they noted that there was still work to do.