The public has a bad frame of reference, or none at all, when it comes to the challenges veterans can face. That’s mostly because the military and veteran communities are small; less than 1% of the U.S. population is currently serving in the military, and 80% of veterans report having an immediate family member who served. Thus, few civilians have relationships to help inform their thoughts on veteran issues. The problem is exacerbated by one-dimensional media stereotypes of veterans. It’s no wonder that 64% of veterans say they feel misunderstood.
It has been difficult to change the narrative surrounding veteran suicide. But to implement smarter policy at the Department of Veterans Affairs for suicide prevention initiatives, we have to do just that. Otherwise, the issue will remain a tired policy discussion that officials become numb to, and the lack of urgency and creativity in solutions will persist.
According to data from the VA, 17 veterans a day — 6,205 per year — take their own lives. When presented with these sobering statistics, most people are shocked and angry. But, like the VA, civilians generally associate veteran suicide with a mental health issue related to their service, such as post-traumatic stress.