Suicide is a public health problem facing all populations, and has been a persistent and growing issue for the nation’s servicemembers and veterans. We testified that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are taking steps to help prevent suicides among servicemembers and veterans by establishing prevention strategies and offices to oversee their efforts. But we previously found that DOD needs to assess its non-clinical efforts, like suicide prevention training, for effectiveness. Also, the VA needs to ensure proper staffing levels for its local suicide prevention teams, and identify and analyze suicides that happen on its campuses.
