Female soldiers and veterans today face vastly different experiences from their male counterparts.  They must fight to prove themselves and work much harder to earn promotions, and they’re more often the victims of intense hazing and harassment. This is possibly why the recent National Veteran’s Suicide Prevention annual report shows military women are twice as likely to die of suicide than civilian women—and are more likely to take their own lives than die in combat.

Burdened by a long-standing culture of sexism and oppression throughout military ranks, women soldiers are also facing increased pressures and stress when they transition to civilian life. These challenges can feel overwhelming for many women. And, the latest Department of Defenses’ report shows suicide rates for women veterans have reached an all-time high, at a staggering 85%.

Female Soldiers Are Fighting Too Many Battles

Women are the fastest-growing veteran group today—making up nearly 10% of all U.S. veterans. This number is on an uptick, and most expect it to hit 15% by 2035. With the increase has come a bit of an identity crisis for women soldiers and vets. 

“Women who are in these male-dominated settings in the military are trained to be strong, to push through,” says Melissa Dichter, associate professor in the School of Social Work at Temple University who published a report this year about women’s suicide in the military and shared her findings in a March 2022 Washington Post article.

When returning to civilian life, it can be difficult for women to find support among their peers. This can be further isolating for women vets who are also juggling jobs, caring for children and/or elderly parents, and seeking mental health support for post-traumatic stress and the aftereffects of abuse or assault.

To lower the suicide rate, we must address these underlying causes. But, how do we do that when there’s still so much stigma behind mental health issues within the armed forces? 

Four Ways To Support Our Sisters in Service

There are some things that the Department of Defense could do to help reduce the risk of suicide. We’ve seen good momentum with recent legislative reform, but there’s more to be done in increasing education and awareness. 

1. Recognize that sexual assault and trauma are prevalent. There’s a growing awareness and understanding that we might fight against the long-standing issue of sexual assault and abuse within the military. A step forward came earlier this year, when we saw some members of Congress working on reforms.   
2. Prioritize sexual assault prevention and education. Raising awareness and building a process for managing abusive issues is indeed helpful. But, instead of simply prioritizing “readiness”, the U.S. military could focus their attention on actively supporting victims and growing their education programs to stave off issues before they arise. 
3. Institute mental health programs that are known to work. We’ve seen progress over the past 20 years, with mental health programs that are proven to work. We can use these data-proven approaches to help manage prevention, intervention, and follow-up support through clinical and community settings. Tailored approaches can provide stability and support for female soldiers and vets, throughout their time in the military and into their civilian life. 
4. Showcase top-down support and set a good example. When high-ranking military leaders get involved and show they truly care, the stigma around mental health seems to melt away. Implementing and managing change, and leading by example, can help to shift the pervading negative culture within the military that fuels such a strong bias against women.

Suicide Prevention Starts With Us

I believe that suicide prevention requires all of us to engage with the community, our fellow women service personnel, military leaders, and legislators alike. The VA annual reports show us that a startlingly high number of suicides come in the first days, after women soldiers return to civilian life. But it also shows that women who have VA care are less likely to kill themselves.

Through continued education and awareness, we can work collectively to override sexual assault and abuse, and hopefully save more lives from being lost to suicide. But to enact positive change, we need to work together with our communities, fellow women survivors, military leaders and personnel, and legislators.

To read the most recent VA annual report, click here.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can contact the Veterans Crisis Line to access immediate, free and confidential support. This service is available all day, every day; 24/7, 365-days a year. Please dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.

I hope you’ll follow this site and blog for more news, stories, and insights for survivors of military and domestic assault and abuse. Have a question or story to tell? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me any time.