Suicide mortality among patients treated by the Veterans Health Administration from 2000 to 2007

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to examine rates of suicide among individuals receiving health care services in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities over an 8-year period.

Methods: We included annual cohorts of all individuals who received VHA health care services from fiscal year (FY) 2000 through FY 2007 (October 1, 1999-September 30, 2007; N = 8,855,655). Vital status and cause of death were obtained from the National Death Index.

Results: Suicide was more common among VHA patients than members of the general US population. The overall rates of suicide among VHA patients decreased slightly but significantly from 2000 to 2007 (P < .001). Male veterans between the ages of 30 and 64 years were at the highest risk of suicide.

Conclusions: VHA health care system patients are at elevated risk for suicide and are appropriate for suicide reduction services, although the rate of suicide has decreased in recent years for this group. Comprehensive approaches to suicide prevention in the VHA focus not only on recent returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan but also on middle-aged and older Veterans.

Figures

FIGURE 1—

Rate per 100 000 person-years and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of suicide by age and fiscal year (FY), among (a) all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) users, (b) male VHA users, and (c) female VHA users: FY2000–FY2007.

FIGURE 2—

Standardized mortality ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of suicide, by age and fiscal year (FY), as compared with the general population among (a) all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) users, (b) male VHA users, and (c) female VHA users: FY2000–FY2007.