The rate of suicide among female veterans since 2001 increased 4.6 percent for those who used VA services, and increased 98 percent for those female veterans who did not. The study found that between 2001 and 2014, veteran suicides increased by 32 percent, while civilian suicides increased by 23 percent in the same time period. As a whole, the risk of suicide among female veterans was 2.4 times higher than among civilian women in 2014, the study found. Suicide rates for male veterans who used VA services increased by 11 percent since 2001, compared to a 35 percent increase among those who did not. Of an estimated 21.6 million veterans in the United States, about 8.5 million receive VA health services, the report said.

Source: Huffington Post August 03, 2016 22:52 UTC