September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Preventing suicide among veterans has been a critical priority for VA throughout the past 20 years. In 2014, an average of 20 veterans died from suicide each day. Between 2001 and 2014, the rate of suicide increased among both veterans and civilians, but the increase was larger among veterans (32 percent) than among adult civilians (23 percent).

In addition, the increasing rate of suicide among women veterans prompted Congress to pass the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, signed into law on June 30, 2016.

Along with other awareness initiatives to be issued during the month of September, VA urges veterans, family members, caregivers, and friends of veterans in need to call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, or text a message to 838255.