Women veterans 2x more likely than male veterans to attempt suicide, according to new study

 AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new study by the non-profit Disabled American Veterans (DAV) found from 2020-2021, the suicide rate among women veterans jumped 24.1 percent, four times higher than male veterans.

“It is a comprehensive look at the risk factors contributing to the staggering suicide rate among women veterans, and how the VA can do better,” said Naomi Mathis an Air Force veteran now advocating with the DAV.

Some risk factors include military sexual trauma, according to the report.

“One in three women report being exposed to military sexual trauma, which is inclusive of sexual harassment and sexual assault while serving in the military,” said Mathis.

“It's not just MST, but also things like intimate partner violence. One in five women veterans report being exposed to intimate partner violence and substance use disorder.”

DAV is also calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make changes to better support women veterans and suicide prevention efforts.

“The VA has an innovative predictive model that predicts suicidality to intervene with high risk veterans,” said Mathis.

“But it uses males as a normative baseline. And it does not include things like military sexual trauma.”

The report titled, “Women Veterans: The Journey to Mental Wellness” also outlines 50 policy solutions.

“There's a three digit number for the National Suicide Crisis Hotline 988, you can press one if you're a veteran. And we believe since there are one in five women that identify with being exposed to intimate partner violence,then there should be a three digit number to reach the National Domestic hotline and with a veteran option.”

If you are experiencing a crisis please call 988.