Mission Roll Call is highlighting major reporting gaps and other factors that may mean that the number of veterans who commit suicide may be higher than what is being reported.

“The scope of the problem may not be completely understood,” said Mission Roll Call CEO and retired Army Lt. Col. Jim Whaley.

The 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report found the average number of daily veteran suicides in 2023 was 17.5, compared to 17.6 in 2022. The findings in the report are based on 2023 death certificate data.

According to the report, the suicide rate per 100,000 veterans rose for both male and female veterans in 2023. For women, the rate rose from 13.7 to 13.9. For men, it rose from 37.3 to 37.8.

Whaley pointed out that the number of veterans across the country is dropping not only because fewer people have served but because of the passage of time.

“World War II, there’s not too many of those gentlemen left, and the Korean War and Vietnam veterans are getting older as well,” he noted.

Whaley said even with the decrease in the veteran population, the rate of suicide for veterans is remaining virtually the same.

Read the full article here: https://www.audacy.com/connectingvets/news/vetcare/veteran-suicide-data-mission-role-cal-41426#