(KNSI) — Nationwide, more than 120,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001, and USAA is leading a new coalition to combat the problem.
USAA offers insurance and banking products exclusively for the military, veterans and their families.
President Wayne Peacock says the coalition is called Face the Fight, and no one will fight alone. “It’s a coalition of corporations, foundations, and veterans service organizations that we have brought together to bring awareness to the problem.”
The idea is to break the stigma of seeking help. “The rate of veteran suicide is 1.5 times the national average. It’s not getting better, but it is a challenge we can conquer.”
An initial $41 million investment seeks to get more mental health counselors into communities.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2020, there were 6,146 veteran suicides. This was, on average, 16.8 per day. That was 343 fewer than in 2019, and the number of veteran suicides was lower than in each prior year since 2006. From 2018 to 2020, age- and sex-adjusted suicide rates for veterans fell by 9.7%. This was a larger percentage decrease than was observed for non-Veteran U.S. adults.
The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 988. Veterans can call that number and press 1.
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