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Tracking Veteran Suicides

Veterans commit suicide at double and sometimes triple the rates of civilian suicides, with the rates varying from state to state. The veteran suicide rate has grown annually at more than double the percentage of the civilian rate.

Suicide rates by state

News21 calculated veteran and civilian suicide rates based on mortality data received from most states. The rate is the average number of suicide deaths per 100,000 people in each state's veteran and adult civilian populations, respectively. Years 2005 to 2011 had the most complete available information.
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Suicide deaths per 100,000
Veterans ( 2011 )
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Veterans average ( 2005 - 2011 )
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Civilians average ( 2005 - 2011 )
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Veteran suicides

Average percentage of all suicides among veterans between 2005 and 2011.

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Percentage
State
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Percentage of all suicides

Comparing rates

Veteran and civilian suicide rates compared between 2005 and 2011.

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Veterans
Civilians
Veteran and civilian rates

Rate growth

Growth of veteran suicide rates between 2005 and 2011.

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Rate
Name
Suicide rate growth
NOTES: Less populated states might show larger growth rates because of their sample sizes. All rates are crude rather than adjusted.
SOURCES: Individual state health and vital records departments, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey one-year estimates spanning 2005 to 2011 and Centers for Disease Control annual national mortality reports.
CREDIT: Forrest Burnson, Bonnie Campo, Chase Cook, Jeff Hargarten, Greg Kohn