From missionrollcall.org
According to the VA’s most recent National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report (2024), an average of 17.6 veterans die by suicide every single day. Although this figure is widely accepted, the real number may be even higher.
An Operation Deep Dive report by America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) suggests that veteran suicides are significantly underreported. AWP suggests that as many as 24 veterans die by suicide per day, with an additional 20 dying by “self-injury mortality,” often overdoses. This totals to a staggering 44 veterans who die by suicide per day, about 2.4 times more than the VA’s estimate.
Mission Roll Call acknowledges the VA’s cautious approach in classifying overdoses as suicides. But the discrepancy between these two reports highlights a deeper issue: we need better data, better definitions, and more transparent reporting. Without accurate data, prevention strategies will always fall short.
