The numbers are too high. From the VA:
http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-06-03706-126.pdf
“There are approximately 25 million veterans in the United States and 5 million veterans who receive care within VHA. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicating suicide rates in men between the ages of 20 and 65 approximating 20 per 100,000 persons per year, VHA mental health officials estimate 1,000 suicides per year among veterans receiving care within VHA and as many as 5,000 per year among all living veterans.”
Thanks for the info. The article is bogus. The VA estimates that there are 25 million living veterans. That includes veterans of WWII, Korea, Peace-time, Vietnam and Iraq I and Iraq II. Out of that 25 million, the VA estimates about 5000 suicides per year.
That’s a suicide rate of .02 percent per year.
The article says that 6240 IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN vets (not total vets in US) are committing suicide each year. It’s hogwash.