Duke study finds veterans face suicide risk decades after service

A new study from Duke University reveals that half of the suicide deaths among veterans happened more than 23 years after they left the military, according to ABC11 WTVD. The research analyzed death records from Massachusetts and Minnesota between 2014 and 2022 and compared them with military personnel records.

The study found that veterans were significantly more likely than non-veterans to die by suicide in both states. Researchers emphasized that while much focus is placed on supporting veterans in the first year after military separation, ongoing support throughout their lives is crucial.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that over 6,400 veterans died by suicide nationwide in 2024, averaging nearly 18 deaths daily. Notably, 62% of those who died had not received VA health care in the year of or the year before their death.

This issue is especially relevant to North Carolina, which is home to over 615,000 veterans. Duke researchers are working to obtain data from North Carolina to expand their analysis and are also extending their study to seven additional states, including Virginia.

Researchers suggest that Veterans Day is an important time to check in on veterans, but support should be maintained year-round to address the long-term risks identified in the study.