The annual total number of veteran suicide deaths increased by 36 from 2017 to 2018 (a total of 6,435 suicides), an increase of 0.6%, while the veteran population declined by 1.5%, according to a 2020 report by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. The average number of veteran suicides per day rose from 16.6 in 2005 to 17.6 in 2018, according to the report.

The data, though, might not reflect the true number of veterans who die by suicide.

“We are looking to streamline our veteran suicide understanding,” said Roberto Alvarez, special assistant, Military and Veterans Affairs, Office of LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

The death-by-suicide data in the study reflects veterans who were interfacing with the VA. Though Alvarez said he is not certain what the real numbers are he can say with some certainty that veteran deaths have been under-counted.

LA County has joined other states and counties to reach into communities to get a more accurate number of veterans who die by suicide.

“This is part of having a better understanding,” he said. “There is a lot of anecdotal data.”

By gathering data that reflects a more accurate number the County will be able to offer more precise support for suicide awareness and prevention.

In September the LA County Board of Supervisors voted to create a veteran suicide review team that would partner with County offices like the medical examiner-coroner.

“Across the U.S., the veteran suicide rate is more than twice the civilian rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. standardized suicide rate is 14 per 100,000 individuals compared to 30.1 per 100,000 veterans. In California, the standardized suicide rate is 10.24 per 100,000 individuals. The California veteran standardized suicide rate is 39.1 per 100,000, demonstrating an increased risk for veterans within the state. In Los Angeles County, veterans constitute fewer than 3% of the overall population. However, data highlighted by the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health (DPH) indicated that in 2017, 891 County residents died by suicide, 93 of whom were veterans. This concludes that veterans are nearly four times likelier to die by suicide than non-veterans in Los Angeles County,” the motion stated.

In addition to the Coroner’s Office the County will work with other offices, including the Office of Suicide Prevention at the Greater LA VA Healthcare System, Dept. of Mental Health and Dept. of Defense, Veterans Peer Access Network and LA County Dept. of Public Health, to get a more accurate number of veterans who die by suicide.

“What we hope to do is bring people together,” Alvarez said.

At this point the program is not asking anything specific from the community but once the program is in place there will be a way for families to share the information of those veterans they lost to suicide.