That is roughly the same average for young males who are NOT in the military.
That's misleading. In both cases suicides are well under 1%, but the rates themselves differ significantly.
Male veterans are significantly more likely to die by suicide than men who never served in the armed forces. In the United States, the suicide rate for male veterans is approximately 44 percent higher than that of non-veteran men (the age-adjusted rates are 42.7 versus 29.6 per 100,000), respectively)
I'm sure the difference would be more stark if comparing those who actually served under fire in combat, and those who served without experiencing that distinction.
According to the report, combat soldiers made up 78 percent of all suicide cases in Israel in 2024, a sharp rise from previous years: The rate hovered between 42% and 45% from 2017 to 2022, and stood at just 17% in 2023.
As for former soldiers, an August 2025 committee found that, as of the report, 15 civilians died by suicide linked to their military service since the onset of the war.
Most recent suicides among Israeli soldiers and veterans were driven by psychological trauma from the ongoing war in Gaza, including prolonged deployments in combat zones, witnessing harrowing scenes and the loss of friends.