Suicide among Women Veterans: Risk Factors Associated with Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being

Women veterans are almost twice as likely as non-veteran women to die by suicide. This issue brief focuses on the link between psychopathology and suicide risk among women veterans – a link that is stronger than among male veterans. It highlights suicide risk related to mental health conditions, substance use disorders, intimate partner violence, and problems with emotion regulation and distress tolerance. The brief provides recommendations for identifying and assisting women veterans at risk for suicide for clinicians and providers.