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Two veterans’ groups and a number of news sources are claiming that the Federal government has systematically and intentionally underreported the suicide rate among former soldiers.
CBS News has conducted the most aggressive investigation. When the network asked the Department of Veterans Affairs for data on suicide attempts among veterans in 2007, the VA provided the number 790. Internal emails released by CBS and the groups Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth suggest that the VA’s own estimates for the period were much higher. The New York Times reports on an e-mail message from Dr. Ira Katz, the head of mental health services for Veterans Affairs, that “starts with ‘Shh!’ and refers to the 12,000 veterans per year who attempt suicide while under department treatment. [Katz wrote] ‘Is this something we should (carefully) address ourselves in some sort of release before someone stumbles on it?’” According to CBS, that email was titled, "Not for the CBS News Interview Request."
Even the higher figure, 12,000 attempts, is almost certainly low — extremely low. CBS was able to aggregate data from 45 of the 50 states. This partial survey revealed 6,256 completed suicides — deaths — among veterans in 2005. The rate appears to be about double that expected for American males of comparable ages. A more systematic study found similar figures. This, in a population that has already been screened, at enlistment, to exclude young men and women with mental illness.
The NIMH estimates that in general, there are about 25 non-fatal attempted suicides for each attempt that results in death. Other sources put the ratio at 18 to one, with men much more likely than women to enact a lethal attempt. Even if the ratio were even ten to one, based on the deaths from suicide we would expect over 60,000 attempts. If this figure is anything close to the reality, most suicidal veterans are not receiving VA treatment, Also, the VA’s internal estimates of attempts in patients under care may still be low.
The veterans groups are suing the VA in hopes of attaining more resources for treatment. But if the charges are right, there is also a political scandal here: in wartime, the government corrupted medical statistics, obscuring the true costs of military service.
