Sept. 19, 2022 -- The suicide rate among U.S. military veterans may be twice what the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports because drug overdose deaths are undercounted and many veterans are not identified as such by coroners or family members, according to a new study.

Researchers from America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP), a nonprofit organization that works to prevent veteran suicides, worked with the University of Alabama and Duke University to examine death data from census reports in eight states from 2014-2018.

In thousands of cases, drug overdose cases were classified as accidents despite indications the deaths should be investigated as suicides, the study said. The military history of people who died was often not known or not reported, leading to an undercount of veteran deaths by a rate of 25%, the study says.

“If these eight states collectively represented the national rate, the combined death rate would be at least 44 (veteran deaths) per day which is 2.4 times higher than the VA suicide rate,” the report said.

America’s Warrior Partnership says more data sharing could provide more accurate numbers and perhaps reduce the suicide rate among veterans.

“These are all preventable deaths,” AWP President Jim Lorraine told Military Times. “The number is less important than the methodology of tracking them and making sure we have an accurate count … that can lead us to prevention steps.”

Other findings in the report: The longer someone served in the military, the lower the chances of suicide. Being demoted during military service increased a veteran’s chances of dying by suicide by 56%. Veterans from the Coast Guard were more likely to die by suicide, followed by the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The eight states included in the study were Alabama, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, and Oregon.

On Friday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough issued a joint public service announcement urging active-duty troops and veterans to seek mental health care if they’re considering suicide.

“It’s important to remember that there is hope. Suicide prevention is possible,” McDonough said. “And we have made great strides in veteran suicide prevention and intervention. But we still have a lot of work to do.”

America’s Warrior Partnership: “Operation Deep Dive, Summary of Executive Report”

Military Times: “Veterans suicide rate may be double federal estimates, study suggests”

YouTube: “Secretary Austin and Secretary McDonough Joint PSA on Suicide Awareness,” Defense Now

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