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March 28, 2008

Data indicate growing numbers of suicides, attempted suicides among veterans

In continuing coverage from previous editions of Headlines, the CBS Evening News (3/20, story 7, 4:00, Couric) reported a follow-up to last November's CBS News exposé revealing "a hidden epidemic of suicide among military veterans."

The network "has obtained never-before-seen patient data from" the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), "detailing the growing number of suicide attempts among veterans [it] recently treated." The data indicate "a marked overall increase from 462 attempts in 2000, to 790 in 2007." Furthermore, the VA study "reveals the increasing number of veterans who recently received VA services, and still succeeded in committing suicide, rising from 1,403 suicides in 2001, to 1,784 in 2005, figures the VA has never made public."

While officials from the "VA declined to speak on camera," an email said that the department "takes the issue of veteran suicide very seriously, and has been doing a thorough data investigation to document the number of patient suicide attempts." The VA "insist[s] that patient suicide rates are consistent with national trends, despite recent studies that show veteran suicide rates substantially higher than non-veterans."

Related Links:

- CBS News: Suicide Epidemic Among Veterans Story with Video

Posted by admin at 11:13 AM