Suicidal thoughts among American veterans have climbed sharply over the past five years, even as reported suicide planning and attempts have remained relatively steady, according to a new study that should get more attention than the usual Washington press release shuffle.

The study, built from a survey of 2,636 veterans, found that 13.4% reported suicidal thoughts in the previous two weeks. That is up from 9% in the 2019 to 2020 survey, a jump of nearly 50%.

Researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD and the Yale School of Medicine examined data from the 2025 to 2026 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Their findings were published July 20 in JAMA Network Open.

The overall rate of suicide planning and attempts did not significantly change during the same period. However, the numbers were worse for certain groups, especially younger veterans and women, who showed higher rates of suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts across the five year span.

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Ian Fischer, the study’s lead author and a clinical psychologist at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, said the changing makeup of the veteran population makes this kind of research essential.

“The veteran population has become younger, and there have been increases in the proportion of women veterans and shifts in its racial and ethnic composition over the past five years, making it essential to monitor changes in suicidal thoughts and behaviors and identify the veterans who may benefit most from prevention and early intervention,” Fischer said Tuesday in a Yale press release.

The hard numbers remain brutal. More than 6,000 veterans have died by suicide each year since 2001, and in 2024, the most recent year with accurate nationwide data, 6,398 veterans died by suicide.

Veterans ages 18 to 34, along with those dealing with homelessness or serious health problems, remain at higher risk. According to VA data, veteran suicide rates are 60% higher than the national average, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among veterans under age 45.

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The VA has spent millions on suicide prevention and has partnered with community groups through grants and support programs. Lately, the department has also pushed more veterans to enroll in VA medical services, pointing to evidence that veterans receiving VA care have lower rates of suicide and suicide attempts.

The study found that veterans who rely on VA primary care were twice as likely to have received mental health treatment at some point in their lives. More than half of veterans using VA health care services were actively enrolled in mental health care.

Still, a major gap remains. Fewer than 37% of veterans who reported suicidal thoughts in the previous two weeks were receiving mental health care, which means too many are still slipping through a system that Washington insists is working.

“These findings suggest that the VA is playing an important role in connecting veterans at elevated suicide risk with mental healthcare,” said Brandon Nichter, a visiting scholar in Yale’s Department of Psychiatry and study coauthor, in a release.

“At the same time, many veterans with recent suicidal thoughts are still not engaged in treatment. Expanding outreach and reducing barriers to care across both VA and community health systems will be essential to reaching these individuals,” Nichter said.

Researchers said younger veterans may face elevated suicide risk in part because post 9/11 veterans endured “elevated trauma exposure” during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those conflicts left a long shadow, no matter how many officials would prefer to file the consequences away in a tidy budget document.

The authors also warned that comparing veterans from different eras is complicated by generational differences and “survivorship bias.” In plain English, older veterans may appear to have lower rates of suicidal behavior because the highest risk younger veterans may not survive into older age.

Women veterans had higher odds of suicide planning and attempts in the survey, while national VA data still show that male veterans die by suicide at higher rates. That distinction matters for prevention, because a one size fits all approach is exactly how bureaucracies miss the people most at risk.

The study identified major depression, alcohol use and adverse childhood experiences before military service as risk factors for suicide attempts. PTSD, major depressive disorder and adverse childhood experiences were tied to suicidal thoughts and planning.

The authors cautioned that the survey depended on veterans reporting their own experiences, and some may have been unwilling to disclose suicidal thoughts or attempts. The sample also did not include incarcerated or institutionalized veterans, meaning it cannot fully represent every part of the veteran population.

Based on the findings, researchers estimated that between 2.3 million and 2.4 million of the nation’s roughly 16 million veterans experienced suicidal thoughts during the study’s measured time frame. They also estimated that roughly 1.4 million veterans had planned suicide at some point, while about 830,000 had attempted suicide during their lifetimes.

The researchers said they hope the findings will sharpen prevention, intervention and treatment efforts. “Targeting key risk factors in vulnerable sub-populations may help mitigate suicide risk,” they wrote.

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Are you feeling overwhelmed or hopeless right now? Have you been withdrawing from people or activities you usually enjoy? Are you having thoughts about hurting yourself, or feeling like things will never improve?

You do not have to handle those feelings alone. Support is available, and talking to someone can make a difference. You can reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or by chatting online at 988lifeline.org. Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day to listen and help.

If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call emergency services right away. Even a small step, like reaching out to a trusted friend, family member, or professional, can help create a path forward.