Sen. Chris Murphy calls for VA to do more as suicide rate spikes among female veterans

Apr. 5—Despite a decrease in the overall veteran population from 2020 to 2021, the number of suicides has continued to increase, especially among female veterans.

Although the number and rate of suicides for male veterans have been historically higher than for female veterans, the adjusted suicide rate for female veterans jumped by 24.1 percent from 2020 to 2021, according to U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs data released in November. This increase is four times higher than the one seen with their male counterparts.

The suicide rate for female veterans is 166.1 percent higher when compared to their civilian counterparts, according to department data.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, sent a letter to the VA early Friday to urge the department to "take swift, concrete steps to tackle this issue head-on." The letter notes that although the VA has made many efforts to address the mental health crisis, the department needs to go further in its support and services for female veterans.

Murphy said he was inspired to write the letter after meeting with a group of female veterans in New Haven in late March and hearing stories of the challenges they faced when accessing mental health care.

"We owe a duty of care to those who sacrificed so much to serve our country, and that's why I'm pushing VA to double down on its suicide prevention efforts," Murphy said. "Improving VA's programming and resources to support women, facilitate safe storage of firearms, and increase access to counseling will save lives."

VA representatives issued a statement saying preventing veteran suicide is a "top-clinical priority," adding the reasons for the rise in suicides are complex.

Women veterans often experience specific challenges relating to their military services that worsen their mental health and heighten the risk of suicide, such as readjustment, posttraumatic stress disorder, trouble sleeping and physical injury, the VA said.

When compared to civilian women, the VA said female veterans also face "a substantially larger trauma burden" between their combat exposure and higher rates of adverse childhood experiences. Female veterans also experience higher rates of military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence than their civilian counterparts.

"Suicide is influenced by factors at the individual, community and societal levels, and there were substantial public health and societal challenges in 2020 and 2021," the VA statement read. "These unique experiences can increase the risk of suicide and require targeted solutions."

In its 2024 report, Disabled American Veterans also identified several other unique factors that may heighten suicide ideation among female veterans, including access to health care, substance use, eating disorders and reproductive health.

The Disabled American Veterans report found there is a 20 percent increased risk for suicide among rural veterans. An estimated one in four women veterans who use VA health care services live in rural areas where they are less likely to receive mental health and gender-specific healthcare services compared to their peers in urban settings.

The report also highlights the connection between sexual trauma and disordered eating, which is linked to an increased risk for suicide.

Pregnancy and menopause can also play a role in suicide ideation. Menopause has also been shown to raise the risk for depression twofold and corresponds to the highest rates of suicide among U.S. women, according to the report.

Easy access to lethal means, specifically firearms, also plays a role in the high rates of veteran suicides, Disabled American Veterans found. Firearms are the most common lethal means used in veteran suicides compared to civilians. The firearm suicide rate was 281.1 percent higher for female veterans than that of nonveteran women. There was a nearly 15 percent increase in veteran women firearm suicide deaths from 2001 to 2022, while male veterans saw a six percent increase, according to the report.

"One veteran suicide is one too many, and we're using every tool at our disposal to prevent these tragedies and save veterans' lives," the VA said in its statement. "VA's mission is to offer comprehensive support that is designed to save lives and get Veterans the world-class care they need, wherever they need it, whenever they need it."

The VA has implemented more than 50 programs to help address the mental health crisis among veterans.

Some of the general initiatives include circulating public service announcements about lethal means safety training and mental health services, offering free emergent suicide care for veterans in crisis, developing a suicide prevention clinical telehealth program and launching a system to identify veterans at risk for suicide.

In its emailed statement, the VA said it also offers support with vocational rehabilitation programs, homeless services, Veterans Justice Outreach services and peer support services.

The VA agrees though that a "one-size-fits-all veteran suicide prevention strategy" is not practical in meeting the various needs of the population.

"Suicide is a complex problem requiring a full public health approach involving community prevention and clinical intervention," the VA said. "Creating culturally sensitive and responsive interventions to meet women Veterans' needs will be required."

The VA said their clinicians have access to the VA's National Reproductive Mental Health Consultation Program, which offers consultation about mental health as it relates to women's reproductive concerns, such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause.

Similarly, the VA medical centers have at least one Women's Mental Health Champion to support and expand women's mental health initiatives and facilitate responsiveness to the needs of female veterans locally, the VA said.

"As more and more women enter the general Veteran community and access Veterans Health Administration health services, VA is rapidly scaling up the availability and sophistication of gender-tailored service to meet women Veterans' diverse treatment needs," the VA said.

Murphy and Murkowski's letter urges the VA to reexamine prevention strategies to incorporate the unique needs of female veterans better.

The letter encourages the department to look at the lethal-means safety programming with a "closer eye" since its general messaging could be fixed to be more impactful in reaching women.

"For this conversation to progress, VA must develop a better understanding of women veterans, the troubles they face, their views of firearms, and the best methods of supporting them," Murphy writes. "I fear that VA, and our country broadly, has not done enough to fully understand women veterans' views of firearm ownership and personal safety, as well as any trauma that has informed those views,"

The letter highlights several other "clear steps" the VA can take to better support female veterans that were in the Disabled American Veterans 2024 report. These steps include collaborating with relevant VA offices, considering partnerships with veterans service officers and healthcare providers.

In their letter, Murphy and Murkowski request the VA provide an update on its considerations within 21 days to learn about the department's next steps and how Congress can help bolster efforts.

"It's past time for the VA to take a close look at its suicide prevention efforts and to work to ensure that its programs meet women veterans where they are," the letter reads.

If you're a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, please dial 988 and Press 1 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line. They can also be reached online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or via text at 838255.

___

(c)2024 The Middletown Press, Conn.

Visit The Middletown Press, Conn. at www.middletownpress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.