Veteran Suicide Risk Reduction: A Recommendation for Practice

Abstract

On August 3, 2016, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Suicide Prevention published the most comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicide in the nation’s history. After adjusting for differences in age and sex, the risk for suicide was 21% higher in the Veteran population than their civilian peers. Substantial decreases in suicide rates have been achieved after targeted dissemination of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, an evidence-based tool that is effective not only as a predictor of suicide risk but also is preventative when appropriately used at every point of care.