Veterans die by suicide at more than twice the rate of non-veterans,1 with the highest risk occurring during their transition from military service.2
Each year, approximately 200,000 men and women make this transition from U.S. military service to civilian life.3 The year following military service has been called the “Deadly Gap” a period in which the veteran suicide rate is more than double the rate among active duty military personnel.4 The transition from military service can be filled with opportunity, but veterans can also face significant challenges such as the loss of camaraderie and purpose, employment and financial stress, coping with unmet mental health conditions and more. The convergence of such challenges can create a perfect storm resulting in elevated suicide risk. At Cohen Veterans Network, we believe it’s crucial that we bring awareness to this critical period and empower our community to be there for one another.
Learn more about veteran suicide prevention strategies and resources.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. (2026, March). 2025 National veteran suicide prevention annual report. Part 2: Report findings. Retrieved August 24, 2026, from https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2025/2025_Annual_Report_Part_2_508.pdf
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. (2019) Help with Readjustment and Social Support Needed for Veterans Transitioning from Military Service. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/docs/Literature_Review_Military_Separation_508_FINAL_05-24-2019.pdf
- U.S. Department of Labor. (2024) Transition Assistance Program. Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap
- Sokol, Y., Gromatsky, M., Edwards, E.R., Greene, A.L, Geraci, J.C., Harris, R.E., Goodman, M. (2021). The deadly gap: Understanding suicide among veterans transitioning out of the military, Psychiatry Research. 300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113875